Paramedics with VMSC Emergency Medical Services providing ambulance service to residents of Chester have now added the option of blood transfusions in the ambulance and even in someone’s home, writes TaRhonda Thomas for 6abc.
“Patients who can receive blood within the first few minutes have a much higher outcome of surviving that incident,” said VMSC Emergency Medical Services Chief Executive Officer Shane Wheeler.
It’s a service only 1 percent of ground ambulance providers in the nation can offer.
“What we are able to do now is bring that first 10-15 minutes of trauma center care — where the patient is getting blood to get them stable — we’re able to bring that forward to the field and make that happen,” said VMSC Emergency Medical Services Medical Director Dr. Ryan Overberger.
Efforts to stabilize a patient early on are more critical now that ambulance rides to the hospital take longer with the closing of Crozer-Chester Medical Center.
It’s at least a 20-minute ride these days in both directions rather than the previous 3- to 5-minute ride.
VMSC is a nonprofit that has partnered with the city of Chester to provide ambulance services.
Find out more about this new ambulance service in Chester at 6abc.
