Frequently Asked Questions

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Emory Emergency Medical Services Frequently Asked Questions

For emergencies, call (404) 727-6111, or call 911.  

By calling Emory EMS’s emergency number directly, you will be connected directly to Emory Police Dispatch which may lead to a faster Emory EMS response. Emory EMS also monitors county 911 frequencies, and will also respond if notified of medical emergencies within the Emory EMS response area. 

Founded in 1992, Emory Emergency Medical Services (EEMS) is a licensed student-led EMS agency operating as a division of the Critical Event Preparedness and Response Office (CEPAR). EEMS responds to approximately 1,000 medical emergencies each academic year across the Emory Atlanta campus and nearby neighborhoods. EEMS is a volunteer organization staffed by licensed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Advanced EMTs (AEMTs). Volunteers include current and former Emory students, faculty, and staff. 

In addition to emergency response services, EEMS offers community education programs such as CPR and basic first aid courses, as well as medical standby services for a variety of university and community events.  

Emory EMS also hosts an in-house EMS Initial Education Program for individuals interested in earning their EMT and Advanced EMT certifications and becoming EEMS volunteers. For more information about the Emory EMS Education Program, click here. 

EEMS is a special division of the Emory Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) and is given administrative and medical guidance by experienced EMS professionals and physicians. 

EEMS is in service 24 hours per day during Emory University's academic year, excluding some academic breaks, with volunteers working 12-hour shifts based out of the 1599 Building on the Atlanta campus. Units typically respond to 2 to 8 emergency calls per shift, though call volume may vary. 

Since many EEMS clinicians are students, they may attend classes on the Atlanta campus while on shift.  If dispatched during class, they are notified via emergency radio and discreetly excuse themselves to return to the EEMS vehicle parked nearby. Schedules are made to ensure class attendance does not delay patient care. Volunteers must inform their professors of their EEMS commitment if they plan to attend class during a shift. 

For emergency calls, Emory EMS is on scene with the patient within an average of 5 minutes of the original dispatch being received. 

Most EEMS volunteers work 2-4 12-hour shifts per month. EEMS volunteers who are promoted to certain leadership positions often work additional hours. Although it is a large time commitment, EEMS is often the highlight of many volunteer’stime at Emory. 

No. The Combined EMT/AEMT Course is a two-semester commitment and must be completed in its entirety. However, if you are interested in volunteering with Emory EMS and already hold an EMT or AEMT license, you may apply through our APPLICATION for individuals who completed their EMS education outside of Emory EMS

No. Emory EMS has been a student-led volunteer agency since 1992. 

No, Emory EMS does not charge for any care provided on emergency calls. If you would like to request Emory EMS standby services for special events(e.g., concerts, races, large ceremonies, etc.), an hourly fee to be paid by the event organizers may apply. For more details about special event standby services, visit here. 

Email emoryems@emory.edu for further guidance. 

No. Emory EMS operatesa fleet of non-transport quick response vehicles (SUVs retrofitted with emergency equipment) rather than traditional ambulances. If transport to the hospital isrequired, an ambulance from a local EMS service will also respond to the scene andoversee further patient care and transport. 

Emory EMS responds to emergency calls on Emory’s Atlanta campus, Clairmont campus, and around the surrounding Emory Community. Emory EMS does not respond to private residences except for Emory Housing, Emory Point Apartments, Campus Crossings Briarcliff, and The Ridge. 

Emory EMS operates during the academic year, with regular operations paused during the following academic breaks, depending on Emory Housing operation dates and Emory EMS staffing availability: 

  • Thanksgiving Break 
  • Winter Break 
  • Spring Break 
  • Summer Break 

Service status updates, including in-service and out-of-service dates, are announced via social media. When Emory EMS is out of service, local EMS agencies are dispatched.