Protocol Update!
“The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Emergency Medical Services (the Department) is issuing the 2021.2 Updated Statewide Treatment Protocols as of today. This edition corrects some typographical errors in version 2021.1, and adds the following substantive changes:
Ketamine dose for pain has been reduced to .15 mg/kg IV and the timing for the repeat dose is now after 15 minutes.
The Stroke Alert window has been extended to 24 hours from last known well.
In addition, the Department has updated the Statewide Trauma Field Triage and Point of Entry Plan (trauma POE) to include an additional anatomic criterion, “recent solid-organ injury,” for transport to a trauma center. This update now appears in the reference copy of the trauma POE in the 2021.2 Updated STPs as well.
All ambulance services are required to train their EMS personnel in the updated STPs and trauma POE. The updated STPs may be used by a service once such training is complete, but in any event are mandatory as of June 15, 2021.
Please also note that the Department is planning to require glucometry as a Basic Life Support (BLS) skill in the STP updates in 2022 and will be proposing adding glucometers to Administrative Requirement (AR) 5-401 BLS Equipment List. Any BLS-licensed services that currently do not carry glucometers and have their EMTs perform this test may wish to plan ahead for implementation. Any BLS services that have already implemented use of glucometers no longer need to annually train their EMTs in its use, as required in AR 5-520. Once BLS glucometry is required in the STP and AR 5-401, the Department will rescind AR 5-520 in its entirety.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and efforts to effectively serve patients across the Commonwealth. If you have any questions on the 2021.2 STPs or the glucometry update, please contact Renee Atherton, NRP, Clinical Coordinator, renee.atherton@mass.gov.