The proposed change to 12VAC5-31-390 “Destination to specialty care hospitals” states “An EMS agency shall follow specialty care hospital triage plans for trauma, stroke, and others as recognized by OEMS…”  leaves out a very important disease process.

It is important to note that cardiovascular disease including heart attack and stroke is the number one killer of Virginians yet there is no mandate to require an EMS plan for heart attack.  It is commendable that stroke is now included in addition to trauma but this still leaves out heart attack and particularly a very serious heart attack condition called STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction).  Effective treatment options including primary angioplasty and stenting to open blocked arteries now exist at many Virginia hospitals Including STEMI in the list of required triage plans could have a dramatic impact on survivability and outcomes for patients with this condition.  The recommended language should read:  “An EMS agency shall follow specialty care hospital triage plans for trauma, stroke, STEMI, and others as recognized by OEMS…”