Physician knowledge and attitudes toward an emergency medical services system.

A survey was conducted to measure the knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning emergency medical services (EMS) of physicians practicing in a suburban-rural county on Long Island, New York. Two hundred fifty-four physicians responded to a questionnaire formulated to determine the following: knowledge of the existing system; perceived changes in system components; opinions about factors affecting emergency department visits; physician recommendations to patients in hypothetical situations; reasons for choosing a particular hospital for emergency patients; interest in involvement in the county EMS training program; and physician socio-demographic characteristics. Such information is valuable in the planning of EMS programs.