Council Connect Articles

Santa Clara Hospitals Discuss EMS Bypass Policy

Who:

  • Hospital Council 
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

What:

Currently, a hospital in Santa Clara County can go on bypass for 60 minutes and still receive stroke and ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) patients. After 60 minutes, the hospital must go off bypass. If the hospital requests to continue on bypass, the EMS duty chief will evaluate the situation and may allow the hospital to stay on bypass, however, it will also include bypass of stroke and STEMI patients. The EMS medical director is proposing to change the current policy to include bypass of stroke and STEMI patients.

Takeaway/Next Steps:

Hospital Council organized a meeting with the COOs and chief nursing executives (CNEs) to review the proposed policy change. After some discussion with hospital leaders and county leaders, it was agreed to place a pause on the change for more stakeholder input and data collection.