Rethinking ALS Intercepts and Mutual Aide Agreements

This article focuses on the EMS standard operating procedure (SOP) known as the advanced life support (ALS) intercept.1 In the seven rural Midwest and Mountain West states in which the authors work it’s common for ambulance services to be staffed by volunteers with basic life support (BLS) training. These dedicated first responders have varied levels of NREMT credentialing including: EMT-Basic, Advanced EMT, and EMT-Intermediate (EMT-B, AEMT and EMT-I, respectively).2 All EMTs complete coursework in human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, emergency skills and patient assessment. The more advanced the EMT (e.g., advanced and intermediate certification) the more patient treatment skills they are usually allowed in their scope of practice. AEMTs will likely have permission to use IV and intraosseous fluid replacement therapy, insert multi-lumen upper airway adjuncts to assist with respiratory resuscitation, and administer a limited number of drugs. EMT-Is are additionally certified to prescribe more drugs than AEMTs. Paramedics receive the same training in human anatomy and physiology but are capable of administering the heart drugs needed to run a ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) or cardiac arrest patient in the field.3 When responding to time-critical events, such as sudden cardiac arrest or STEMI, a BLS ambulance service with EMT-B, AEMT and EMT-I first responders doesn’t possess the advanced training necessary to completely treat and stabilize the pa...
Source: JEMS Operations - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Exclusive Articles Operations Source Type: news