DULUTH, Minn., Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Arrowhead EMS Association was awarded $5 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Program (SS4A) as part of an initiative to improve and expedite post-crash care in rural communities and tribal areas. The NorthEast Advancement of Rural and Remote Emergency Medical Services (NEARR-EMS) program will equip 20 ambulances in 15 agencies with Avel eCare’s EMS telemedicine services. EMTs and paramedics can connect virtually 24/7 with Avel’s board-certified physicians, experienced paramedics, and nurses for peer-to-peer support in the field or during transport.
“Residents of rural and remote areas in NE Minnesota face significantly greater challenges than their urban counterparts in getting to definitive care after a crash. EMS teams have longer distances between EMS hubs and few-to-no nearby specialty centers available, resulting in increased response and transport times. We believe our NEARR-EMS program will help rural communities make the most of extremely limited resources,” said Adam Shadiow, MBA, MEP, Executive Director, Arrowhead EMS Association.
Rural areas in Minnesota account for just a quarter of traffic crashes but represent over half of the state’s fatal crashes. This seven-county, four-tribal nation region in NE Minnesota averaged 9.88 traffic deaths per 100,000 residents between 2017 and 2021.
NE Minnesota’s diverse geography and weather create additional hurdles. Its dense forests, lakes, and rolling hills considerably impact roadway design. During the summer months, the region experiences a substantial population increase without additional EMS resources. Similarly, winter weather slows transportation times and delays emergency response.
“Telemedicine can speed access to post-crash care during the critical Golden Hour in medicine, when the patient’s chances of survival are greatest. This program will deliver life-saving trauma care more quickly, helping to reduce traffic fatalities in rural communities,” said Rebecca Vande Kieft, VP and General Manager of Emergency Services at Avel eCare.
The University of Minnesota Translational Center for Resuscitative Trauma Care (TCRTC) research team will use data collected during the five-year program to evaluate the efficacy of the new EMS telemedicine program, focusing on its impact on patient care.
“There has been a significant increase in traffic deaths and serious injuries across Minnesota over the last five years. Innovative approaches are needed to reverse this trend. This project will have a positive impact on safety outcomes through high-quality data to inform the state’s post-crash care plan,” says Greg Beilman, MD, Associate Dean for DoD Relationships, Director of Translational Center for Resuscitative Trauma Care, and Professor of Surgery at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
In September, Southwest Minnesota EMS Corp. was awarded a separate $9.9 million SS4A grant to provide telemedicine services to every EMS agency in its 18-county region, representing 54 EMS agencies and 109 ambulances. The SS4A program will award a total of $5 billion over five years to fund projects aimed at improving roadway safety and preventing deaths and serious injuries on our nation’s roads, streets, and highways as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.