Coming to you with exciting, mid-year clinical updates! These updates highlight the usage of two new field treatments that have become available in the last few months.
In March, AEMT Brian Coen and Paramedic Franklyn Moreshead were dispatched at the request of Cranberry Township PD for an elderly female who was unresponsive after a traumatic injury. The patient was found to be pale, altered, and with critically low blood pressure (hypotension). The crew requested UPMC’s Squad 98 to the scene for a unit of blood. Following application of two tourniquets, one unit of blood was administered via IO by Paramedic Moreshead and UPMC medic Joshua Habib. The patient had a significant improvement in vital signs and mental status by the time of arrival at the emergency department. She made a full recovery and was discharged within the week. This was CTEMS’ first field blood administration!
In June, AEMT Tawnie McCracken, AEMT William Stegman, and Paramedic Franklyn Moreshead were dispatched to a male complaining of weakness. Upon arrival at the scene, the patient was found to be profoundly hypotensive and to have an altered mental status. Patient saw no change in condition after IV fluids and push dose epinephrine were administered.
Norepinephrine was then given via IV using the Sapphire IV pump. The patient experienced rapid improvement, with blood pressure returning to normal and mental status returning to baseline. He was cracking jokes with the crew as they arrived at the ED! This was the FIRST administration of norepinephrine since CTEMS began carrying it in April.
Thank you to AHN Wexford for assisting in the purchase of the Sapphire IV pumps. Thank you to UPMC Squad 98 for the blood resource! Also, thank you to the Cranberry Township Police Dept for assisting our crew on this call and working closely with CTEMS on a daily basis.
We are grateful to be able to provide hospital-level care to our community members.
