Lifesaving devices donated to 11 local towns — Acushnet, Fairhaven, Fall River, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Somerset, Swansea, Wareham and Westport
| For Immediate Release | Contact: Joyce Faria Brennan |
| October 18, 2006 | 508-961-5270 |
| brennanj@southcoast.org | |
 Get this release in Word format |
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NEW BEDFORD, Mass. — Southcoast Hospitals recently donated 30 life-saving intraosseous (IO) infusion devices to eleven local non-profit paramedic services, further expanding the capabilities of the region's pre-hospital care providers.
The Southcoast Hospitals' Community Benefits Committee each year supports community health initiatives as part of its ongoing commitment to addressing the health and wellness needs of the community. The committee recently identified the need for intraosseaous (IO) infusion devices for local community EMS services. The IO devices have become the first alternative for paramedics that are unable to administer lifesaving fluids, drugs or blood products intravenously en route to the hospital.
"Being able to administer vital fluids and drugs intravenously is a challenge paramedics may face when treating critically ill patients," said William Kasdon, MD, Chairman of the Southcoast Community Benefits Committee and Medical Director of the Emergency Department at Charlton Memorial Hospital.
"When a patient suffers shock from a traumatic injury or acute illness, the body's veins may collapse, making intravenous access very challenging," Dr. Kasdon said. "Recent technologies have allowed specially trained paramedics to access the 'intraosseaous space' for administering critical fluids and medications as an alternative to IV access. The IO device makes accessing this space safe, quick and efficient."
How does it work?
Paramedics traditionally administer vital drugs, fluids and blood products intravenously through the peripheral veins. In acute situations such as shock, low blood pressure or cardiac arrest, IVs may be very difficult to start because the veins collapse limiting critical treatment options.
An alternative to intraveneous (IV) infusion is intraosseaous (IO) infusion, which utilizes the non-collapsible area inside the bone or bone marrow where fluids may flow freely to the central vascular system.
Until recently, IO infusion was limited to pediatric cases because adult bones are harder and more difficult to access. Technological advancements have now made it possible for trained paramedics to use a special device to access the central vascular system in adults, quickly and effectively.
Southcoast Hospitals identified the EZ-IO® product system developed by Vidacare® for distribution to local paramedic services. EZ-IO is a small battery-powered device with two beveled, hollow drill-tipped needles designed to provide safe, controlled vascular access for patients of all ages within seconds — causing minimal trauma to patients.
In 2005 the American Heart Association revised its 2005 guidelines for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) recommending IO infusion as the first alternative to IV in adult cardiac arrest patients. The Southcoast Community Benefits Committee took this into consideration and proactively contacted eleven local nonprofit ambulance services regarding the need for IO infusion devices in the South Coast region.
Eleven local towns with paramedic medical technicians (EMT-P) are:
- Acushnet
- Fairhaven
- Fall River
- Freetown
- Marion
- Mattapoisett
- New Bedford
- Somerset
- Swansea
- Wareham
- Westport
About Southcoast Community Benefits Program
Southcoast Hospitals' Community Benefits Strategic Action Plan, first formulated in 1998 focuses on three regional priority health issues, access to health care, cardiovascular disease and youth risk behaviors. The Southcoast Community Benefit Report, filed with the Attorney General, outlines these major initiatives which all had significant impact with growing programs that reached large numbers of South Coast residents. The report can be found online at www.southcoast.org/news/benefits/.
The Southcoast Hospitals' Community Benefits program encompasses the three communities served by Southcoast — Greater Fall River, Greater New Bedford, and the Greater Wareham regions. With an oversight from the Southcoast Board of Trustees, the community benefits committee addresses the critical health needs in our community using the data collected in a Health Needs Assessment Survey. While the vast majority of this contribution is in free care services ($7.2 million in 2005), Southcoast also makes a significant contribution ($2.2 million in 2005) in direct community benefit programming such as services provided by the Southcoast Health Van, RAPPP (Responsible Attitudes toward Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting) school program, Cardiovascular Health Task Force and various wellness, community grants, prevention and screenings which take place throughout the year.
About Southcoast
Southcoast Health System, a not-for-profit charitable organization, is a community based health delivery system with multiple access points, offering an integrated continuum of advanced health services throughout Southeastern Massachusetts and East Bay, Rhode Island. It includes Southcoast Hospitals Group, formed in 1996 from the merger of Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Southcoast has more than 40 ancillary facilities, including the Southcoast Health Van, home health care, hospice and infusion services, numerous outpatient medical services, an assisted living facility and a wellness center. For more information visit www.southcoast.org.
Southcoast is one of three community hospitals approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform open heart surgery and primary angioplasty beginning in Spring 2002.
Media Contact
Joyce Faria Brennan
Phone: 508-961-5270
Pager: 508-387-9605
Fax: 508-961-5876
brennanj@southcoast.org
