What You Should Know:
– The Arrowhead EMS Association has been awarded a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Program.
– The funding will support the NorthEast Advancement of Rural and Remote Emergency Medical Services (NEARR-EMS) program, an initiative to improve and expedite post-crash care in rural communities and tribal areas of Northeast Minnesota.
Telemedicine to Enhance Rural EMS
The NEARR-EMS program will equip 20 ambulances across 15 agencies with Avel eCare’s EMS telemedicine services. This technology allows EMTs and paramedics to connect virtually with board-certified physicians, experienced paramedics, and nurses for real-time support in the field or during transport.
Improving Patient Outcomes
By providing immediate access to expert medical guidance, the program aims to:
- Improve patient care: Enhance the quality of care provided to patients in rural areas.
- Expedite treatment: Facilitate faster decision-making and treatment interventions.
- Reduce transport times: Potentially reduce the need for long transports to distant hospitals.
- Optimize resource utilization: Support rural EMS agencies in providing effective care with limited resources.
Evaluating Program Effectiveness
The University of Minnesota’s Translational Center for Resuscitative Trauma Care (TCRTC) will evaluate the efficacy of the NEARR-EMS program over its five-year duration. This research will focus on the program’s impact on patient care and outcomes.
The SS4A program is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and will award a total of $5 billion over five years to fund projects aimed at improving roadway safety across the United States. The NEARR-EMS program is one example of how this funding is being used to address critical healthcare needs in rural communities.
