In January of 2004, New Hanover Regional EMS became North Carolina's first Model EMS S ystem.  Achieving Model EMS System designation is a lengthy process and requires that the system be tightly integrated to include all of the emergency medical agencies in a county, or in this case, the Wilmington and New Hanover County Fire Departments, all eight volunteer fire departments, the Ogden-New Hanover Volunteer EMS, and ambulances at General Electric and KoSa.  The lead agency's ability to collaborate with other agencies is a major component in the system.  This designation also requires that an extensive Quality Management (QM) process be performed at all levels.

OEMS regulations set out criteria under which EMS programs in the state may apply to become a "model system."  This voluntary program, similar in many ways to an accreditation process, recognizes systems which choose to go beyond the minimum requirements.  To meet the requirement, a county must submit an application to OEMS for such designation showing that it not only meets the state's minimum standards, also those additional requirements addressed in this section.  Such a designation is for a six year period, at which time another application is required.