On Jun. 2, 1974, the Burn Center at Harborview Medical Center received its first patients. It is now a leading center for surgical management of burn wounds.

Harborview Medical Center serves as the sole adult and pediatric level I trauma center for Washington State, and its faculty have led efforts to develop comprehensive systems of trauma care across the country.

The Washington State trauma system is an inclusive system that was developed based on data-driven decisions to distribute resources based on population need.

From the beginning, the Medic One program has been focused on ongoing quality improvement efforts and research to improve prehospital care. Many of the seminal studies developing out of hospital resuscitation for cardiac arrest were conducted by Harborview investigators in collaboration with Medic One.

While much of the country was wrestling with the scope of practice of EMS providers, Seattle Medic One research documented a 98.4% success rate with prehospital intubation including the use of neuromuscular blockade.