The following message was relayed to the Alabama Hospital Association for dissemination to hospitals across the state:
Good morning,
During to the ever changing situation concerning the COVID-19 pandemic and the overwhelming surge of patients in hospitals across the state, the Alabama Office of EMS will be temporarily altering the current stoke plan set forth for the State of Alabama Stroke System. Patients are currently being taken to Level 3 Stroke centers from the field and are then unable to be transferred out to a higher level of care due to patient surge at the Level 2 and Level 3 stroke centers. The ATCC is receiving requests for stroke transfers from level 3 stroke centers and are being declined from as many as 12-14 hospitals before gaining an acceptance, which then is often out of state. This temporary alteration to the plan would allow for the patient to be taken directly to a Level 2 or Level 1 stroke center if time permits. We feel that this would be in the best interest for the patient and would help to mitigate a situation in which a physician was unfortunately placed in the extended care of a patient with no neurological support when needed.
We are confident that this is the most appropriate response to this ever changing and ongoing situation and will be in effect until further notice and the COVID-19 patient case load becomes more stabilized.
Thank you for assistance in this matter and for working with EMS to provide the best care for the citizens of Alabama.
Mr. Jamie Gray, BS, AAS, NRP Acting State EMS Director Alabama Department of Public Health Office of Emergency Medical Services The Administrative Annex 208 Legends Court Prattville, AL 36066 P.O. Box 303017 Montgomery, AL 36130 Office: 334-290-3088 Fax: 334-206-0364 Email: jamie.gray@adph.state.al.us
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