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Changing Names to Enhance EMS

 
 
For those of you that enjoyed last nights blog post, I must say my wife and I had an interesting al biet short conversation about it last night.  She said really, you think it is a far stretch to connect those songs to EMS, and I responded with, with the brain power I have left, yep!  So now you can get the connection that she mentioned to me.  Phony calls from Weird Al has a perfectly good connection to EMS and Fire.  Don't go making phony calls... how many times have we been on those "false calls" regarding fire alarms, or patients that aren't on the scene when you arrive.  So evidently Weird Al really knew what he was talking about.  I have tied Michael Jordan to teaching EMS and now Weird Al to public education on false calls for 911.  Man I love this blog. 
 
In addition to Weird Al, the EMS 10 awards also looked at a new process for eliminating an overworked EMS system.  We will hit this system tomorrow. 
 
Today we are going to look at MedStar EMS.  In the recent release of award winners, MedStar EMS has undergone a complete transformation to change the way that we look at the delivery of prehospital emergency care.  Of the 350 employees that make up the MedStar Mobile Healthcare system, not a single one was content with maintaining the status quo.  As with many other areas in the country, Fort Worth has witnessed first hand the fact that "too many patients cal 9-1-1 and use the emergency medical care system as their source of primarty healthcare and that's inconsistent care for the patient." (JEMS, 2012) So how do you transition EMS delivery, one that "is a much kinder and gentler way to help patients." (JEMS, 2012)
 
So MedStar changed their name to account for the new system they created.  A system dedicated to "streamline their mobile service to now be the envy of EMS." (JEMS, 2012).  One that actually works and can be supported as you look at the overall aspects of the delivery including the patient care experience and the fiscal aspects of the system. 
 

In this case, MedStar Mobile Healthcare started from the beginning.  Their 9-1-1 system starts with a triage situation like most do, but if they are determined to be a low-acuity call they are transferred to a nurse that will help them with treatment or give them directions to contact their primary care physician or direct them to an urgent care clinic.  Help people find the healthcare they need offering a more comprehensive medical experience.  It doesn't end with that.  System management will also utilize true community paramedicine concept where they identify repeat callers, find those that are admitted because of social not medicinal reasons, and they are connecting with hosp[ice nurses.  They are creating a holitic view of the medical process and trying to create an approach that will truly help the patients while enhancing the system. 

Medstar leadership has been across the country with hopes to enhance the delivery of prehospital emergency medicine across the country.  Will their system help you?  Read about it, research it and use their focus on shifting the status quo to help deliver greater healthcare in the United States. 

Take Care and Stay Safe
The Combomedic

twitter.com/dsblev

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