State by State: July 2019

TEXAS: ASA Releases New Guidelines on Stroke Care

A policy statement published in May by the American Stroke Association, based in Dallas, recommends that when more than one intravenous alteplase-capable hospital is within reach, EMS crews should consider additional travel time of up to 15 minutes to reach a hospital capable of performing endovascular thrombectomy for patients suspected of having a severe stroke. The statement also addresses disparities in care among racial and ethnic minorities, who are less likely to use EMS and have the lowest awareness of the causes and symptoms of stroke, and includes recommendations in the areas of education, triage, secondary prevention, rehabilitation and support, and federal and state policies.

CALIFORNIA: Family Awarded $3 Million in 9-1-1 Delay Case

Los Angeles County supervisors approved a $3-million settlement for the family of Ashley Flores June 4. Their lawsuit alleged that the Century Station, which handled 9-1-1 calls, provided poor training to its deputies and had failed annual inspections of its desk operations during the previous three years. Eleven-year-old Flores began having difficulty breathing on Christmas Eve 2017, and the family’s repeated 9-1-1 calls were not properly routed, according to the suit. Fifteen minutes went by before Flores' relatives were connected to a fire department dispatcher—a delay the family claims contributed to her death.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: ET3 Request for Applications Now Viewable

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation has announced that its request for applications (RFA) for the new Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) model has been posted on its website at https://innovation.cms.gov/initiatives/et3/. While the Innovation Center is not accepting applications at the time of this writing, CMS says it is making the RFA available as “an opportunity for potential applicants to review the RFA before the online application becomes available later this summer.”

COLORADO: Student Who Rushed Shooter Plans to Be EMT

STEM School Highlands Ranch senior Josh Jones, who rushed a school shooter May 7 along with friends Kendrick Castillo and Brendan Bialy, told reporters after the attack that he wants to become an EMT. The attack left Castillo dead and eight injured, including Jones, who suffered gunshot wounds to his thigh and calf. Following a missionary program next year, Jones plans to attend EMT school. “After what happened, the EMTs were just so incredibly helpful and kind,” he said. “I want to do that, to be able to help those that need it.”