Page 122 - South Mississippi Living - February, 2016

GO RED making a difference
story by Lynn Lofton photos by James Edward Bates IN THE COMMUNITY
N Designing new ways to deliver healthcare
ationwide, millions of peo- ple are alive today because paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs)
came to their rescue. Thousands of Harrison and Hancock County resi- dents are part of that fortunate number, thanks to the local American Medical Response team. The company is the sole provider of all ambulance service for these two counties and has served the Coast since the mid 1970s. Last year AMR responded to 56,000 calls with an average response time of 9 minutes and 32 seconds.
“Paramedics and EMTs bring part of the hospital to the scene of the emer- gency. Our ambulance crews are always composed of a paramedic and an EMT,” said Julia Clarke, Director of Hospi-
tal and Government Relations. “They start lifesaving care on the scene and continue it through delivery to hospital emergency personnel.”
Because AMR crews have rigorous training on a continuing basis, they can quickly assess the patient’s condition and begin treatment. They also use an advanced monitoring system to deter- mine heart problems such as a blocked artery or irregular heartbeat. While en route to the hospital, the crew can wire- lessly transmit the patient’s heart read- out to specialized physicians. “Because the doctors receive that critical patient information early, our crew sometimes goes straight through the emergency department and take their patient directly to the catheterization lab where the cardiac team is ready to start oper- ating,” said Operations Manager/EMS
ABOVE: AMR EMT Courtney Debenport (left) and Field Supervisor Heather Miller (right) with mock patient Tonia Beasley (center). BOTTOM LEFT: AMR dispatcher Holly Ewing displays the ambulance service’s stroke diagnostic screen.
Chief Greg Doyle. “The national stan- dard is to deliver the patient to the cath lab less than 90 minutes from the start of the heart issue. Our average time is 45 minutes. We’re extremely proud of that because it means lives saved.”
Doyle adds that if anyone is going
to suffer a heart attack, Harrison and Hancock counties are the best places to have it. “Nationally, the survival rate for patients who lack a heartbeat when medics reach them is about 20 percent. Our rate is 31 percent.”
AMR is authorized by the American Heart Association to conduct a range of 40 courses in emergency cardiac care, including CPR, advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support. In 2015, AMR trained 5,900 people. “Our relationship with the AHA started years ago,” Doyle said.
“We’ve worked with them as a training center and on projects such as making defibrillators available throughout the casinos on the coast.”
Doyle and Clarke stress the posi- tive impact their services have. “Yes, we save patients’ lives. In addition, our work has great effect on everyone connected to the patient — relatives, friends, and so many others, “Doyle said.
Clarke added, “At AMR, we excel in providing quick, medically sound, safe service and our crews show every pa- tient and family amazing kindness.”
12020 Intraplex Parkway, Gulfport 228.897.1191 • www.amr.net/miss
122 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • February 2016
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