Emergency medical services systems in the United States and China: a developmental comparison.

International emergency medical services (EMS) consultation requires many sensitivities to cross-cultural issues. Contemporary EMS models in developed countries have, by necessity, a systems framework. This study compares evolving EMS systems in the United States and China. It is concluded, that, no matter what the potential and cultural differences might be, a systems framework inherently will emerge in EMS development. As such, the EMS components recognized often will expose an evolving systems approach with more similarities than differences and can reveal strategies for improvement. Providing a developmental comparison process is a necessary first phase in analysis of a country's systems development or restructuring.