Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services, Division of Public Health

Date of Award

02.09.2015

Program

Rural Healthcare, Delivery

Amount

$5,993,069

Term of Grant

72 months

Project Title

Nebraska Cardiac Care Project

Project Description

The funds will be used to purchase and distribute LUCUS devices to approximately 360 ambulance services and 64 hospitals; to coordinate train the trainer sessions; and, provide support for training, data collection, use of the devices and evaluation. Automatic chest compression devices to perform CPR when cardiac arrest patients are encountered will improve survival and quality of life for those patients. These devices are especially important for our rural areas when patient transport time is significant and human intervention for CPR is difficult and tiresome leading to decreased effectiveness. Reducing the number of sudden cardiac deaths in the state of Nebraska is a primary goal of the Nebraska Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program. The purchase and distribution of LUCAS devices for approximately 406 ambulance services and 80 hospitals will enhance the achievement of this goal plus help to improve the quality of life and patient care in Nebraska. In addition this financial support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust to purchase LUCAS devices, will complete the Nebraska EMS Program’s goal of a complete continuum of care for the cardiac patient from the beginning of citizen CPR and pre-hospital response untill the delivery and survival of a cardiac patient at a cardiac specialty hospital within 90 minutes. Utilization of CPR compression devices (LUCAS) is the next phase of Nebraska’s Cardiac Care System Development Plan to save lives. The Cardiac Care System already includes and is also developing the following: • Statewide Cardiac and STEMI protocols • Cardiac training programs for basic and advanced life support • Promotion of Community CPR Programs • Strategic distribution of AEDs to ambulance services and communities throughout the state • Provide $150,000 in state funds to purchase 12-leads for ambulance services ineligible for Mission Lifeline funds to purchase 12-leads • Partnering with Mission Lifeline in the distribution of 12-lead devices to enhance STEMI care plus educate the public in rural Nebraska about signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest • Statewide participation in the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES). This will help to better capture data to improve care • Development of a user friendly cardiac data collection system that will include all aspects of cardiac care data to provide ease of reporting for pre-hospital and hospital providers • Further development of a Statewide Cardiac and stroke program to improve cardiac care similar to the Nebraska Statewide Trauma Program Utilization of the LUCAS device along with the already existing programs in the Nebraska Cardiac Care System Development Plan could increase Nebraska cardiac survival rate by 50%. The State of Nebraska is requesting financial support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust and an opportunity to partner with the trust to achieve this goal and enhance the survival of sudden cardiac arrest in Nebraska.