A team of four Iranian physicians was dispatched to the U.S. state of Texas to examine the American emergency system closely. Over six months, they studied the structure, training programs, dispatch mechanisms, and communication networks of American EMS. Their goal was not to merely copy the system, but to adapt and improve it for Iran’s social, geographic, and medical context.
When the team returned, they brought with them two American experts in emergency training—Jim Patterson and Max, both experienced instructors. Patterson, in particular, became deeply involved in the Iranian project. He stayed in Iran for years, helping train the first generation of Iranian emergency technicians and laying the foundations of what would become one of the most respected emergency systems in the region.
The Birth of the Emergency Information Center (1354 / 1975)
After months of preparation, recruitment, and infrastructure development, the Tehran Emergency Information Center officially began operations in 1354 AH (1975 CE). The new system was initially headquartered in Tehran and employed 30 emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who had completed a six-month intensive training program under the supervision of the American instructors and Iranian physicians.
