New Orleans EMS Solution To Long ED Waits

[x635 4,066]

Interesting concept.

The increase in the number of calls also brought about another issue -- long waits at the hospital.

To get crews back in service, a paramedic being paid overtime roves among the city's hospitals in a support vehicle equipped with two stretchers.

"When personnel learn they may be delayed in an emergency department, the medic responds to stay with the patient. The crew takes a stretcher, and goes back in service."

The delay in some emergency departments has been more than an hour.

http://emsresponder.com/article/article.js...p;siteSection=1

From "New Orleans EMS Remains Homeless"

[NJMedic 96]

Might only be a band aid solution to a bigger problem.

Since the patients are on the property of the hospital like it or not the patients are their responsibility, even if the medics have not "transferred care". If EMS is going to try to solve a hospital problem then the hospitals will have no desire to do it themselves. Waht happens when the patient needs intervention, does the medic have any equipment other then the stretcher? What if he/she needs to contact medical control? This might solve one problem but open the door to many others.

[ny10570 745]

NYC has addressed delays in the ER by not bringing patients to the hospital. Nothing gets an administrators attention faster than losing the money train that is EMS arrivals. After a unit is extended more than 40 minutes, the hospital goes on "redirection" and only telemetry approved or critical transports can go to that facility until all of the units are cleared out. It has made a significant impact on many hospitals.