title: Regionalized approach to emergency medical services training for the care of patients with mechanical assist devices.
abstract: Advances in mechanical circulatory assist device technology have allowed dozens of patients with different types of devices to live in any community in the United States. Some of the newer devices pump blood continuously, resulting in patients without pulses. The mechanical circulatory assist device teams and emergency medical services providers in the mid-Atlantic region wondered how best to prepare the community to respond appropriately to emergencies in patients with these mechanical devices.
authors.affiliation: Life Evac of Virginia, Glen Allen, VA 23059, USA. tvandebussche@airmethods.com
authors.forename: Todd J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Van de Bussche
authors.forename: Lori G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Tonya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Suzie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harton
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rivard
authors.forename: Allen C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wolfe
mesh_terms: D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008873:Mid-Atlantic Region; D012040:Regional Health Planning