Abstract
Advances in the treatment of emergent medical conditions such as trauma, acute ischemic stroke, and ST-segment myocardial infarction in recent years have significantly improved patient outcomes for these pathologies. Therapeutic interventions for these conditions are often time dependent and rely upon specialty services that are not easily accessible to many communities. As a result, networks of care have developed to extend access to these specialty resources across larger geographical regions. Formation of such regionalized networks is a complex process from both a clinical and political perspective. This chapter discusses the rationale for regionalization, historical milestones in the evolution of regionalized systems, critical concepts for the establishment of these systems, and the influence of regionalization on improving patient outcomes. After reading this chapter, the reader will have an improved understanding of the benefits of regionalized emergency care as well as the many challenges involved in developing effective regionalized systems.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Medical oversight of EMS |
| Publisher | wiley |
| Pages | 32-42 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Volume | 2-2 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781119756279 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9781119756248 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 18 2021 |
Keywords
- Bypass
- Categorization
- Designation
- Diversion
- Emergency medical care system
- Regionalization
- Time-critical diagnosis
- Time-critical diagnosis system
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine