The history of Indianapolis Emergency Medical Service (EMS) can be traced back to 1887, when City Hospital began using its own ambulances to transport sick and injured patients. City Hospital, which would later be known as Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, underwent significant changes over the years. In 1947, it was renamed General Hospital and its ambulance service came under the direction of the newly created Health and Hospital Corporation. During this time, EMS education was introduced, culminating in the establishment of the first paramedic program in 1973.
In 1975, after a substantial renovation and expansion of General Hospital, it was renamed Wishard Memorial Hospital Indianapolis, and the renowned Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center was opened, enhancing health care options throughout Marion County. During this period, ambulance services were operated by both Wishard and the Indianapolis Fire Department (IFD).
In 2010, to improve the quality and efficiency of emergency medical response, the EMS services of IFD and Wishard were merged to form Indianapolis EMS, a partnership involving the City of Indianapolis, Health and Hospital Corporation, and Indiana University School of Medicine. This merger allowed Indianapolis EMS to expand its services beyond emergency care to include integrated health care. In 2012, CORE was launched to provide medical and social services directly to the community, addressing health issues stemming from limited access to necessary resources. Indianapolis EMS Education Services were also enhanced to include innovative solutions for training the EMS workforce, with accelerated programs and advancement opportunities encouraging providers to continually improve their skills while delivering the highest quality care possible.
In 2013, the Health and Hospital Corporation opened the doors of the newly constructed Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Hospital and rebranded Indianapolis EMS in collaboration with Eskenazi Health. This partnership aims to offer the best pre-hospital medical services to the community through a commitment to excellence in patient-centered care, education, efficiency, efficacy, safety, and quality of service, continuing the legacy of what happened to Wishard Hospital.