VEMS is a non-profit emergency medical provider.  VEMS was formed in 1983 to bring together and provide coordination among the ambulance services in the five towns of Connecticut’s Lower Naugatuck Valley. The first and most visible result of that coordinated effort was the introduction of VEMS paramedics to the towns in 1984.  Over twenty years later, VEMS and its highly-skilled staff still provide paramedic intercept service and work alongside volunteer and combination-type basic life support ambulance companies, which provide transport to the hospital for those in need of medical care.  VEMS paramedics arrive at the scene of 911 emergency calls, assess the patient on scene and, if necessary, ride with the patient to the hospital to provide advanced care. 

Working closely with Griffin Hospital to develop protocols and ensure a high-caliber of clinical intervention, VEMS also provides advice and counsel to public officials representing the towns it serves.  Mayors and First Selectmen rely on VEMS leadership for advice on how to handle their own public health and safety matters.  The original intent of VEMS has not been lost.  Through its Board of Directors, VEMS still works to bring the communities it serves together in the collaborative effort of ensuring high quality and comprehensive care to the region’s residents.