Emergency Department Programs and Services
Advanced Life Support/Paramedics
The Saints Medical Center Paramedics bring our mission of compassionate high quality medical care directly to the scene of medical emergencies throughout the Greater Lowell area in cooperation and conjunction with our local 9-1-1 first responders and Basic Life Support ambulance services. Advanced Life Support care provided by Saints Paramedics is overseen by strong physician medical control and quality assurance based at Saints Medical Center.
The Saints Medical Center Paramedics provide primary 9-1-1 paramedic emergency response to the City of Lowell, and the Towns of Chelmsford, Dracut, Dunstable, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough and Westford. This makes Saints the provider of the second largest population serviced 9-1-1 ALS paramedic response system in Massachusetts. The response area encompasses a mix of high-density urban, suburban and rural areas.
The Saints Medical Center Paramedics have brought some of the most sophisticated prehospital lifesaving medical care available anywhwere in the world to the Greater Lowell area. In 1996, Greater Lowell EMS paramedics piloted paramedic Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) in Massachusetts. "RSI" is a specialized lifesaving procedure for patients suffering from severe trauma and breathing difficulties. Since 1996, hundreds of adults and children have been saved by the Saints Paramedics performing specialized "RSI" procedures at critical emergency scenes in the community. Due to the complexity and skill level required, only a few highly skilled regional paramedic teams, such as Saints Paramedics, are permitted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to perform RSI. We are proud to offer this enhanced and proven life-saving program to our community.
The Saints Paramedics also bring a high-level of cardiac care to every heart patient. Our paramedics receive intensive education on cardiology far surpassing standard paramedic education. Saints Paramedics rapidly diagnose heart attacks in the field and activate our heart attack teams before the heart attack patient arrives at the hospital. When possible, Saints Paramedics developed a "Green Light" program to transport heart attack patients directly from the scene to Saints Medical Center's cardiac catheterization laboratory. This further speeds the opening of a blocked artery causing a heart attack. Our multidisciplinary teamwork resulted in a 2008 JCAHO surveyor "Best Practices" recognition for our ultra-short and lifesaving "Door To Balloon" emergency angioplasty times. Our seamless coordination between the Saints Paramedics and hospital emergency cardiac teams is a glowing example of how the unique capabilities of the Saints Paramedics helps to save lives everyday.
In January 2008, Saints Paramedics were the first paramedic service in Massachusetts to offer a new combination of potentially lifesaving treatments at the scene of a sudden cardiac arrest in the community. Saints paramedics now bring "Therapeutic Hypothermia", the RESQPOD™ threshold impedance device and the EZ IO ™ intraosseous vascular access device to life threatening cardiac emergency events, increasing the chances of survival and improving the functional outcomes of those who survive. To improve neurological outcomes of revived cardiac arrest patients, Saints Medical Center's Paramedics piloted field therapeutic hypothermia treatment in Massachusetts after reviving a cardiac arrest patient. Despite showing early signs of severe brain damage, the Saints Paramedics early initiation of therapeutic hypothermia, which was closely coordinated with the Saints critical care team's expertise in performing our in-hospital hypothermia protocol, led to the patient's full recovery.
The Saints Medical Center Paramedic Department strives to excel and improve Emergency Medical Services to our community. Our paramedics are involved in statewide EMS development, community education, public outreach and safety awareness, as well as stand-by and dedicated medical support services for public safety incidents and for elite public safety operations units. Greater Lowell EMS is a key member of our community disaster preparedness and response planning, training and operations.
Fast Track for Minor Illness/Injury
Saints Medical Center offers a "Fast Track" approach to emergency medicine where patients with non-urgent medical issues are treated as quickly as possible. Because those identified for "Fast Track" have less severe medical issues, patient visits are expedited resulting in shorter wait times.
"Fast Track" patients are brought to an examination room for further evaluation by a medical professional trained in emergency medicine. Patients may undergo certain tests such as blood work and X-rays to assist with diagnosis and treatment.
If it is determined that a "Fast Track" patient requires hospitalization, he or she is admitted to a specific hospital department depending on the nature and severity of the condition. If discharged home, patients are given specific instructions to follow up with their primary care physician.
Saints Paramedic, Timothy Regan, receives SWAT Award
Saints Medical Center paramedic, Timothy Regan was recently recognized by the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council (NEMLEC) Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team for his dedication to providing tactical medical support to NEMLAC SWAT. Please see press release for information on this outstanding accomplishment.
