The federal Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) unveiled their Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) model program on Valentines Day, 2019. ET3 is a voluntary, five-year payment model that will provide greater flexibility to ambulance care teams to address emergency health care needs of Medicare beneficiaries following a…

Healthcare is evolving, and technologies are “disruptive” drivers, ironically technology is often the easy part. What is difficult is the people component of implementing technology and process changes. Healthcare providers are stretched to the limits and change is often perceived as a distraction, masking real needs and opportunity that can lead to more efficient, better…

Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, Illinois is a 191-bed facility that boasts all private rooms. They are renowned for children’s and women’s healthcare, neurosciences, and orthopedic and wellness therapies. In addition to comprehensive patient care, the hospital offers health and nutrition classes in their auditorium and grows organic produce for patients, staff and the…

The Naperville Fire Department has a lot on their plates. With almost 148,000 residents to protect, this fire department needs not one, not two…but ten station houses to be adequately prepared for whatever emergencies may arise. Those emergencies are not just these “I forgot to unplug the curling iron” or “I wasn’t supposed to fry…

A seizure is characterized as “an event of altered brain function which is caused by abnormal or excessive electrical discharges from brain cells” (Mickie’s Miracles, 2019). Seizures are quite common. As a matter of fact, fatal seizures killed more people in the past 12 months than breast cancer. Although according to the CDC, the numbers…

Sometimes, you just don’t feel quite like yourself.  Sometimes the symptoms are just too vague to understand- lightheaded, nauseous, chest feels a bit tight? Was it that questionable salmon you ate at lunch…or something a bit more serious? In a situation like this one you take no chances- you dial 911. Once you type those…

The Challenge The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel in the United States respond to an estimated 37 million 911 calls every year.1 A delay in care for a patient with a time-sensitive emergency can be more harmful than a medication error—and the number one cause of treatment delays that result in poor outcomes is communication…

When we work hard or give up our time to help others and sacrifice our needs, we want to be appreciated. It’s human nature. We don’t need a pat on the back every time, but it’s encouraging to receive recognition every now and then. This is especially vital when it comes to our first responders,…

Burning buildings are just one of many challenges that Fire Rescue faces on a daily basis. According to Aaron Dean and Mick Messoline of FireEngineering.com, “Fire suppression and prevention are only two of the numerous duties a fire department must carry out.” In fact, many calls are actually medical emergencies that many jurisdictions require firefighters…

[PRINT] When a heart attack is suspected, triage and timing are critical, especially when treating a ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI), or a more severe heart attack. Out of the 735,000 heart attacks throughout the United States each year, about 250,000 of them are STEMI. The heart is not receiving blood, which can be fatal if…

[PRINT] THE CHALLENGE As Arizona’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center certified by the American College of Surgeons, Phoenix Children’s emergency room receives 20-30 ambulances daily, transporting sick and injured children around the clock, 365 days a year. Children can be brought in from distances as far as an hour away. Of those pediatric patients,…

The United States is becoming even more diverse with the languages we speak. Today, more than 25 million Americans speak poor English, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This effect is felt especially in healthcare, where communication and language comprehension can directly affect patient safety and satisfaction, as well as all associated risks and costs…