Region IV COVID-19 Advisory and ED Interface Policy

Region IV EMS Services and Emergency Departments,

The Metropolitan Boston EMS Council, Inc (MBEMSC) has been working to keep our EMS providers and other healthcare partners up to date with all pertinent COVID-19 information as it becomes available.

As we continue to move forward in this ever expanding health crisis our goal is to try and alleviate any stressors, as much as we can, that impact the EMS system as well as the interface with the Emergency Departments and the larger healthcare system.

In an effort to streamline the interface between EMS and the Emergency Departments the Region has developed an advisory addressing the cessation of aerosolized treatments upon arrival at the Emergency Department to decrease the potential spread of highly infectious respiratory disease or COVID-19.

In addition to the cessation advisory, the Region has also developed a COVID-19 EMS/Emergency Department Interface Policy to address the concerns revolving around the interactions between EMS and Emergency Department staff upon the arrival of a potential highly infectious respiratory or COVID-19 patient (attached).

The Region’s utmost goal is to protect the patients and the providers that make our system operate. In this uncertain time we are providing guidance to alleviate any potential bottlenecks in the system and trying not to place any more burden upon either the EMS provider or Emergency Departments within the Region.

This advisory and policy are effective until such time that the state of emergency is concluded within the Commonwealth.

Should you have any questions regarding either of these documents, please do not hesitate to contact us.