Emergency medical services (EMS) are a critical part of the US healthcare, public health, and public safety systems, providing both emergency and non-emergency care across diverse pre-hospital settings. EMS clinicians hold tiered credentials based on education, certification, and licensure, yet workforce shortages persist due to the absence of a comprehensive national database.

This article examines trends in EMS workforce exits and describes the sociodemographic and work characteristics of leavers before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Don’t have access to the full text? Email Kyla Woodward, kylas@uw.edu, to request a pdf version.