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Calif. medics may soon decide if you need to go to ER

Rescuers may decide a patient doesn’t need an emergency room at all, maybe an urgent care or a trip to the doctor’s office instead

KABC

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — When a paramedic responds to a call, they’re required to take patients to the emergency room, even if their condition doesn’t necessarily warrant that level of care. But there’s a new proposal to change that in Santa Monica.

Santa Monica paramedics may soon be empowered to make medical judgments out in the field.

When 87-year-old Ada Taylor called 911, she had no idea she’d be in for a long wait. This part of a paramedic’s job is called “wall time” because that’s where they wait.

Full story: Santa Monica paramedics may soon decide if you need to go to ER