Summary
The 2026 EMS Index is a technical report that examines seven critical measures of prehospital care, aiming to enhance community health and safety outcomes through data-driven insights. This ninth edition utilizes the largest dataset in the Index's history, comprising over 17.3 million de-identified records from 4,459 participating agencies. The report outlines the importance of comparing agency data against national benchmarks to identify opportunities for improvement. Each measure includes operational definitions, narrative analyses, and best practice recommendations. The measures cover areas such as opioid response, obstetric emergencies, and pediatric behavioral health, highlighting trends and challenges in EMS. The report emphasizes the role of EMS in addressing community health issues and encourages leaders to leverage these insights to drive measurable improvements in their operations. The findings are intended to stimulate discussions on best practices and quality improvement efforts within the EMS community.
