Northeast Colorado Regional EMS & Trauma Advisory Council
The EMS and Trauma System for Northeast Colorado
NCRETAC coordinates emergency medical and trauma services across nine counties in Northeast Colorado. We support 26 licensed ground ambulance agencies, regional hospitals, and the providers who staff them every day.
NCRETAC is the regional advisory council established under the Colorado EMS Act to coordinate and improve emergency medical and trauma services across Jackson, Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld, and Yuma counties. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by county-appointed representatives from hospitals and EMS agencies throughout the region.
What We Do
NCRETAC coordinates EMS and trauma services through eight standing committees, regional data programs, clinical standards, and workforce support for providers across nine counties.
Committees
Eight standing committees and the Northeast Physicians' Advisory Board drive clinical standards, education, preparedness, workforce, and peer support across the region.
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Training & Events
Continuing education, Stop the Bleed training, the Eastern Plains EMS Conference, and other regional events for EMS and emergency services providers.
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Clinical Standards
Regional protocols, regulatory guidance, the HerO+ whole blood program, and the Colorado RISE Collaborative for EMS and trauma providers.
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Data & Reports
Colorado EMS financial models, payer mix analysis, county cost baselines, funding scenario tools, and the NCRETAC Biennial Plan.
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Advocacy
State and federal legislation affecting rural EMS. Budget impact analysis. EMSAC updates. Grounded in system impact, not political framing.
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Health & Wellness
Peer support access, provider behavioral health resources, the In Memoriam program, and the Colorado RISE Collaborative for regional EMS providers.
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About NCRETAC
Mission, board membership, regional footprint, organizational history, and how to contact or join the council.
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A Large Region with a Wide Range of Agency Sizes
Covering 17,534 square miles along Colorado’s northern border, the Northeast Colorado region spans from rapidly growing urban corridors in Larimer and Weld counties to frontier areas in Jackson, Phillips, and Sedgwick counties where backup support may be more than 30 minutes away. Agency call volumes range from tens of thousands of annual responses to fewer than 20.
With an estimated population of 803,157 across nine counties, NCRETAC exists to coordinate across that range, ensuring that rural and frontier agencies have access to the same standards, training, data, and system support as their larger counterparts.
FY 2026–2027 System Priorities
The NCRETAC Board approved five goals for the current biennial plan period. These goals guide committee work, resource allocation, and regional coordination through FY 2027.
Goal 1: Strengthen the EMS Workforce in Rural and Frontier Areas
Recruitment, career pipelines, leadership development, and retention strategies tailored to frontier agency realities. Led by the Workforce Development and Support Committee.
Goal 2: Reduce Geographic Ambulance Coverage Gaps
Identifying underserved response areas, improving situational awareness, and exploring collaborative response models. Led by the Emergency Planning and Preparedness Committee.
Goal 3: Expand Mental and Behavioral Health Support for EMS Providers and Patients
Clinical competence in behavioral health response, de-escalation capability, and peer support for providers. Led by Clinical and Professional Standards with support from the Health and Wellness Committee.
Goal 4: Improve Communications System Reliability and Interoperability
Radio interoperability, 911 PSAP coordination, and communications infrastructure across a large and geographically challenging region. Led by Emergency Planning and Preparedness.
Goal 5: Deliver High-Quality, Accessible Education
Continuing education, high-risk skill training, and provider development accessible to agencies across the region regardless of size or location. Led by the Education Committee.
Latest from NCRETAC
Newsletter
Latest Edition
Policy updates, regional news, training announcements, and advocacy corner for EMS and emergency services partners across Northeast Colorado.
NCRETAC Newsletter — April 2026 ›Advocacy
Colorado EMS Legislation: 2026 Session
Track active bills affecting rural EMS and trauma systems. Plain-language summaries with operational impact for Northeast Colorado agencies.