Thurston County's Medic One ambulance service has become the first accredited ambulance ultrasound program in the United States, the county announced December 2, 2025. All eight Medic One units now carry on-board ultrasound imaging equipment.
Eighty Medic One paramedics completed the training requirements of the Clinical Ultrasound Accreditation Program to earn the distinction. The accreditation recognizes both the equipment installation and the clinical training standards paramedics met.
Ultrasound imaging in ambulances allows paramedics to assess patients in the field before reaching a hospital. The technology can help identify internal injuries, cardiac conditions, and other emergencies during transport.