HACKENSACK, N.J. — Thanks to a newly expanded blood bank license and a regulatory waiver from the New Jersey Department of Health, specially trained paramedics at Hackensack University Medical Center can now carry and administer blood transfusions at the scene or en route to the hospital.
This seemingly small change is already having a lifesaving impact, like in the case of a man who suffered a traumatic abdominal injury in a table saw accident, the university stated in a press release.
“Numerous studies show that giving whole blood on the scene can be immensely beneficial, decreasing prehospital and early-hospital mortality,” HUMC EMS Air Medical Chief Flight Nurse Joseph Solda said.
“We are proud to be the first Advanced Life Support program in New Jersey to offer this life-saving treatment,” Hackensack Meridian Health’s Transfer Center, HUMC EMS and Emergency Community Operations Director Michelle Kobayashi added.
When the transporting ambulance contacted the MICCOM dispatch center to alert the HUMC trauma team about an incoming critically ill patient, Dispatcher Sean Kennedy quickly recognized signs of shock related to the patient’s traumatic injury using established dispatch protocols. He arranged for a paramedic unit equipped with blood to intercept the ambulance en route to the hospital and ensured the teams coordinated the meeting point.
“We are confident that our ability to offer this ground breaking care will make a significant difference in the lives of our patients,” says Lisa Tank, M.D., F.A.C.P, MBA, president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack University Medical Center. “This crucial advancement in emergency medicine is transforming trauma care, giving patients a fighting chance when every second matters.”
