Crittenden EMS Ambulance

Crittenden EMS Ambulance

Measure Crittenden EMS’ progress this year by big strides. 2015 into 2016 has brought expansion into a new city as well as initiating a new one of a kind service for patients.

Through constant research and partnerships with area hospitals we have implemented several significant advances in patient care. Over the past year, CEMS conducted extensive research into what can be done to improve the survivability rate and quality of life for patients that suffer cardiac arrest.

National statistics reveal fewer than eight percent of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside a hospital will survive and even fewer make a meaningful recovery. These averages drop even lower in rural areas where ambulance response times are longer. That means that between 92 and 96 patients out of 100 that suffer a cardiac arrest will survive and recover.

These statistics are simply unacceptable at CEMS.

Owner Hudson Hallum explained CEMS’s first of its kind Point of Care equipment.

Now on board, one ambulance is aimed at improving statistics and saving the lives of heart attack victims.

“We are field testing point of care right now,” said Hallum.

“That is something nobody else is doing right now. We can test a patient’s blood for cardiac enzymes. Within ten minutes of starting the test, the machine we have on the ambulance can tell us whether you are having a heart attack.

We can do that on the scene or while in transport. That way we give the hospital an even better picture of what is going on and the path they need to take when we get there.”

CEMS is the only ambulance service with one on board.

“No one else is doing this, not even the helicopter,” said Hallum of his exclusive EMS level care.

While the equipment sharpens reaction to a cardiac event, CEMS is also takes steps, proactively working to improve the numbers.

Providing the most up-to-date resources on our ambulances for use by our paramedics is vital to our plan and outcomes for patients.

When a cardiac arrest occurs in a hospital, a minimum of four to five people are available to assist in resuscitation, In the field, often times it is only two people and one of them must drive. This leaves the paramedic to perform CPR as well as gain IV access, place a breathing tube, manage the cardiac monitor, and push appropriate medications.

This is a near impossible task for one person to perform efficiently. In order to provide another “hand” inside the ambulance we’ve installed LUCAS cardiac compression devises on all our paramedic ambulances. This machine takes the place of human chest compression. This is a very effective tool with proven results.

LUCAS provides near perfect chest compression continuously with out the human factor of fatigue, which leads to less effective compression. Studies have shown that in combination with early CPR, survival rates could be as much as 40 percent greater. That is a 400percent improvement over traditional CPR.

Continuous uninterrupted compression is a survival key.

In the event an ambulance crew is successfully able to resuscitate a cardiac arrest victim, they still face the challenge of transporting the patient a long distance while battling time to prevent further death of brain cells and heart muscle. Just like anything else, putting a person on “ice” will help preserve their vital cells and muscle.

In conjunction with Methodist University Hospital, CEMS now has the capability to induce hypothermia in post cardiac arrest patients that have been successfully resuscitated. This is accomplished by running IVs with saline kept at 40 degrees as well as placing ice packs in the groin, armpit and neck. Our goal is to lower the patient’s core body temp to around 92 degrees during transport. This is utilized in hospitals and has demonstrated positive results in saving valuable brain cells and preserving vital heart muscle. CEMS is currently the only ambulance provider in our area with the resources and capabilities in place to provide these advanced treatments.

CEMS is also the front runner, leading the way to improving care and resources that are available to our schools for student athletes.

Recent studies have shown that heat related illnesses or injuries are rising, especially during hot and humid summer workouts.

Studies show that active cooling on site for heat emergencies is the single most effective tool in reducing permanent tissue damage. Large portable cooling tanks will be available at all outdoor athletic events including practice. Our crews have been trained in on scene and delayed transport management of athletes with heat emergencies, especially ones that have been placed into the cooling tanks. Our ambulances are equipped with thermometers that are designed for continuos internal temperature monitoring as well as cold saline IV fluids and medications to reduce the pain and anxiety experienced through the procedure.

Management and care of these athletes requires constant interaction and training between coaching staffs, athletic trainers, and emergency services, Stepping up community education and outreach work as a key to unlocking the door to improved survivor rates. The first part of our plan is to improve survival rates. We offer free CPR training to all agencies in Crittenden County that are part of the emergency response system. We are also offering community based CPR training to churches and other groups when requested.

These may seem like simply a step in the chain, but it is a vital component to improving awareness and reaction. Early detection and CPR are the single most important factor in the chain of survival.

Education and training help with that.

“We train together with the West Memphis Fire Department; that’s an invaluable partnership,” said Hallum.

These are just a few of the advances made available to our community with more hoped for in the future.

Last year, the company stepped forward and added a station in Parkin. The company continued to grow further west, opening a new base inWynne. CEMS expanded it scope and reduced response time, giving patients extra valuable minutes.

Emergency runs are not the only reason for an ambulance ride. CEMS offers non-emergency ambulance service too.

CEMS launched a medical transport and ambulatory service for Medicaid patients , with a fleet of vans and cars to take patients to and from the doctors visit (This service is also available to non-medicaid patients as well).

None of the progress made in our advanced pre-hospital care would be possible without an invaluable partnership with Methodist They have a staff that is committed to our community and passionate about helping us better serve our community. We want to thank them for their continued support of our service and to their commitment to our community. We look forward to the future “progress” thoughoutt 2016 and beyond in our role in community Healthcare.