Los Angeles County, Calif., is using a $1 million Federal grant to develop and implement a mobile app aimed at enhancing prehospital trauma care.
County officials said the initiative seeks to improve emergency medical services in Los Angeles County by drastically reducing post-motor vehicle crash deaths through a new Los Angeles County Protocol mobile application.
“For patients with severe trauma, immediate care on scene by paramedics is critical to their survival and recovery,” said Dr. Nichole Bosson, Los Angeles County EMS Agency Medical Director. “This grant will place the most up-to-date, evidence-based practices into the hands of our EMS clinicians, quite literally, via a mobile application.”
The California Office of Traffic Safety awarded Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine, and the Lundquist Institute a $1,015,566 grant. Funding for the grant came from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The grant program will run through September 2024.
“Post-crash care is our last best chance to prevent serious injury or death,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Real-time support for emergency responders is an invaluable source to guide treatment decisions that will save lives.”
Currently, protocol information can be accessed via the Los Angeles County EMS Agency website. The development and deployment of the Los Angeles County Protocol mobile application will provide immediate access to current best practices for Los Angeles County EMS clinicians operating in the field to assist with decision making in real-time.
“The Lundquist Institute has been at the forefront of pioneering medical innovations. Our collaboration with Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and Los Angeles County EMS is a testament to our enduring commitment to push boundaries and bring groundbreaking discoveries from our institute to the community,” said Dr. David Meyer, President and CEO of The Lundquist Institute. “The development of this mobile application represents yet another stride in our quest to enhance patient care and outcomes across Los Angeles County.”
County officials said the real-time decision support tool will “empower EMS professionals with rapid response access to the latest policies, treatment protocols, medical control guidelines and more.” The app also features Just-in-Time (JiT) video training, which focuses on high-risk, low frequency interventions. A press release explained that this feature ensures that EMS professionals are equipped to provide the best care in the rarest emergency procedures, enhancing patient safety and care quality.
According to the same press release, paramedics using the app expressed heightened confidence and proficiency in attending to critically ill patients.
“As a level 1 trauma center, Harbor-UCLA Department of Emergency Medicine is proud to provide excellent care to our patients, always seeking innovative ways to better serve our community. This grant and the subsequent development of Los Angeles County Protocol mobile application underscores our relentless pursuit of clinical excellence,” said Dr. Craig Goolsby, Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. “The mobile app will enhance the swift, effective EMS care LA County residents receive, and help us improve outcomes for our injured patients.”
