Chief: Expanded telehealth ambulance pilot program could ease loads
A pilot telehealth program connecting Akron fire emergency crews with Cleveland Clinic Akron General physicians has been working well in reducing patients transported to the emergency room and could help lessen the load for Akron crews when they have to take over all transports later this year, the Akron fire chief said.
But not all hospitals are on board yet, Akron Fire Chief Joe Natko said during Akron City Council budget hearings this month.
More:Doctor on board: Telehealth program lets Akron EMS bring ER physicians to homes virtually
How does the program work?
In January 2021, Akron became one of only a few in the country who won a spot in a five-year trial using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) model.
As part of the pilot, emergency crews were able to let patients talk to an Akron General physician before they make the trip to the emergency room, getting them care faster.
The program is used in non-emergency situations, where crews treat a patient who doesn't need to be rushed to the hospital — or to go at all, Natko said.
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American Medical Response, a private ambulance company that has helped transport patients for Akron, will end its contract with the city in August. Natko said he would like to grow the telehealth program, but "it’s very difficult because the hospitals haven’t all bought in yet.”
“It’s a struggle right now with getting compliance from all of the hospitals,” said Natko. “We hope to get Summa as well as Children’s Hospital on board. It was a trial program and it’s working well and we’d like it to work better.”
Hospitals respond
Akron Children’s Hospital did not directly respond to the question about telehealth, saying “we are actively involved in discussions surrounding extended EMS wait times and higher call volumes with our community partners — the adult hospital systems and Summit County Fire Chiefs through the Health Care Alliance of Greater Ohio.”
Dr. David Seaberg, chair of emergency medicine, said Summa "remains interested in working with the city on ways to alleviate emergency department wait times for low-acuity visits and preventing unnecessary transport to emergency departments.”
At Akron General since January 2021, there have been 3,975 telehealth calls with Akron EMS crews, said Dr. Steven Brooks, chair of emergency medicine. Of those, only 15% have had an ER visit within 48 hours, he said.
“We are pleased that this program has been able to keep 3,378 patients out of the Emergency Department and get them redirected to the right care at the right time and right place,” he said.
Beacon Journal staff reporter Betty Lin-Fisher can be reached at 330-996-3724 or blinfisher@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Expanding emergency telehealth pilot program could help ease loads
