Muskogee County EMS professionals stand ready with emergency medical transportation services for individuals as well as communities and fire departments to ensure patients receive proper care when seconds count. Our paramedics and EMTs possess the training necessary to administer care, coordinate with on-scene first responders, communicate with emergency room physicians and transport patients to the appropriate facility.

With Muskogee County EMS ambulance stations strategically located throughout the county, MCEMS is best able to provide prompt responses and reliable on-time performance.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to be the leader in pre-hospital care through service and education.

What does it mean?

As a leader, MCEMS strives to not only provide the best, most, up-to-date pre-hospital care possible, but also to present ourselves as an example to other EMS agencies in all areas of service. Simply stated, we want to be the best and show others how to be the best as well.

MCEMS is, first and foremost, a service agency designed to do for others what they cannot do themselves.  It is this belief in the intrinsic value of serving others that inspires us to continue working for the goods of others and seek continual improvement for our service.

We continually improve what we do by educating ourselves in the latest technologies for doing our job. We focus on identifying and providing needed educational opportunities, not only for ourselves but also for the communities we serve, enhancing our own practices and demonstrating our commitment to community service.

Our Core Values

At MCEMS we have identified six core values that help our service to have the greatest IMPACT on our community and the patients we serve, and we hold ourselves responsible to each one as an employee of MCEMS.

Integrity | Motivated with Compassion | Professionalism | Adaptability | Continual Improvement | Teamwork

Commitment to Excellence

Throughout the decades, we have prioritized growth in both staffing and training, believing every patient deserves medics who are skilled, experienced, and compassionate. By 1992, our team of 45 included paramedics, registered nurses, EMTs at multiple levels, and Emergency Dispatchers, with annual calls nearing 9,000, which is almost eight times the call volume of our inaugural year.

Leadership, Expansion, and Facilities

In 1993, after 11 years of dedicated service, Director J.B. Rainey retired and Terri Mortensen, RN, NRP, a seasoned field paramedic and assistant director, ushered in a new era of leadership. Under her guidance, Muskogee County EMS grew significantly in size, call volume, and capability, operating at a professional level that incorporated advanced life support and paramedic services.

Terri Mortensen’s tenure was marked by many innovations. Muskogee County EMS became the first ground ambulance service in Oklahoma to administer thrombolytics in the field and equipped paramedic ambulances with cardiac monitors capable of transmitting wireless 12-lead EKGs to hospitals. The service also maintained specialized teams such as Tactical Emergency Medical Support and Disaster Medical Response during her leadership.

Mortensen was recognized as a dedicated professional who contributed deeply to the quality of emergency medical care in the region. By 2018, under her leadership, the service was responding to over 20,000 calls annually—an indicator of the growing demand and strong service capacity during her tenure. She retired in early 2020, passing the leadership baton to Laurel Havens.

In the early 1990s, we expanded our ambulance stations to Fort Gibson, Haskell, and Warner to better serve our broader service area. As call volumes climbed toward the end of the 1990s, our growing team and operations eventually outpaced our original facility. By 1997, we were fielding close to 9,500 service requests a year and needed a larger station to match our expanding demands. Our headquarters relocated to 200 Callahan Street in Muskogee, several blocks from our original courthouse basement location. Soon after, we established additional stations on the east and west sides of Muskogee to further support coverage as our service area and staff continued to grow.

Advancements Under Laurel Havens

Under the leadership of Director Laurel Havens, Muskogee County EMS has seen continued growth and major operational improvements. One of the earliest initiatives was the transition to 12-hour shift schedules, which brought a positive effect on pay and employee health and wellbeing. The agency has developed more robust peer support systems to help improve wellness and resilience among staff. Also under Laurel’s leadership, employees have gained access to enhanced benefits, including financial planning resources such as Dave Ramsey programs, and retirement supplement options through 401(k)/457 plans.

The agency and its partner associations have also embarked on important legislative efforts. These advocacy endeavors have helped secure the sales tax to fund EMS, advancing county-wide public safety improvements and responder facilities in Muskogee County. Additional successes include reclassifying EMS under hazard duty in OPERS, securing state fuel tax exemptions for EMS vehicles, and supporting increased reimbursement for out-of-network ambulance providers—all of which have strengthened the foundation and stability of emergency medical service for Muskogee County and across the state.

Setting the Curve in Emergency Medicine

Muskogee County EMS is widely recognized for leading-edge care and innovation. With approximately 140 employees, including Paramedics and Critical Care Transport Paramedics, and a fleet of over 20 ambulances, our organization was the first in Oklahoma to administer thrombolytic therapy in the field. Our paramedic-staffed units are equipped with technology to wirelessly transmit 12-lead EKGs to local hospitals and routinely utilize advanced tools such as intraosseous infusions, RSI protocols, capnography, CPAP, transport ventilators, and a comprehensive medication formulary.

Accredited Excellence

In 2000, Muskogee County EMS became one of the first agencies in Oklahoma—and 18th in the United States, 41st internationally—to achieve full accreditation from the International Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatchers. This distinction reflects our commitment to meeting the highest standards in emergency communications and patient care. The accreditation process requires rigorous certification, continuous improvement, and dedication to best practices across all levels of staff and operations.

Supportive Culture

Our commitment to excellence goes beyond clinical care. Muskogee County EMS supports its employees and the wider first responder community through a strong culture of compassion and resilience. Our Peer Support Team provides assistance, connection, and encouragement for staff—helping to create a professional, caring workplace where our providers are equipped to serve with dedication and empathy. Team members regularly receive ongoing training, wellness support, and recognition for service, ensuring that professionalism and support remain at the heart of all we do.

Looking Forward

By the end of 2024, Muskogee County EMS was responding to nearly 24,000 requests for service annually, demonstrating steady growth and ongoing demand for emergency care. With ongoing improvements and new programs, we remain dedicated to exceptional care, teamwork, and patient safety, and we look forward to the future with pride in our rich history and excitement for what’s next.

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