The Washington County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system is a performance based EMS system that consists of an exclusive ambulance transportation franchise, seven fire department first response agencies, air medical scene support, four primary receiving hospitals and two level-1 trauma centers, and an advanced 911-E dispatch center (known as a public service access point or PSAP). Regulatory oversight and direction for this system comes from Washington County and the State of Oregon.

The EMS Office is responsible for the oversight of ambulance and wheelchair car services in Washington County, and a small border portion of Clackamas County. The authority for this is granted in Oregon Revised Statute (ORS) 682, which authorizes counties to regulate ambulance service within their boundaries. Under this authority Washington County has adopted its own EMS Ordinance (Code 8.32) and Administrative Rules (Section 554). In Washington County non-emergency ambulance service and wheelchair car service is regulated, but not restricted.

The EMS Office and its staff provide regulatory oversight and program development to the County EMS System. This is accomplished through a variety of collaborative activities and processes involving continuing education, quality improvement, protocol development, coordination of system improvement, regionalized standardization, and franchise agreement requirements.

The Washington County EMS Medical Directors provides medical direction and oversight to the EMTs and paramedics at Metro West Ambulance, and to the first responders, EMTs and paramedics with the Banks Fire District, the Tualatin Police Department, and the Washington County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Team. Medical direction is also provided to county-based AED programs.

Washington County Emergency Medical Services Office
155 N First Avenue, MS 23
Hillsboro OR 97124-3072
503-846-8699
Fax: 503-693-8996
Email: ems@co.washington.or.us