EMS Policy Manual - Contra Costa Health Services

Contra Costa
Emergency Medical Services
HOSPITAL CT / STEMI - CARDIAC CATH LAB AND
INTERNAL DISASTER 1 DIVERSION
POLICY #: 24
PAGE: 1 of 1
EFFECTIVE: 7/5/2011
REVIEWED: 7/5/2011
I. PURPOSE
To assure prompt notification of diversion status throughout the EMS system so that emergency
patients are transported to the most accessible medical facility that is staffed, equipped, and prepared
to administer emergency care appropriate to the needs of the patient.
II. TYPES OF DIVERSION
Inoperable CT scanner (CT Divert)
Internal Disaster (INT Divert)
Inoperative Cardiac Cath Lab (STEMI Divert)
III. REDDINET NOTIFICATION OF DIVERSION STATUS
ReddiNet is the only accepted notification method for reporting CT, INT and STEMI diversion.
Once the appropriate ReddiNet status field has been changed, ambulance dispatch centers
automatically receive the notification and then relay hospital diversion status to their ambulances.
Emergency Department personnel should note that using the ReddiNet “message” feature alone does
not reliably result in ambulance diversion. Messaging about diversion status should only to be used
after the appropriate change has been made in the ReddiNet status field.
IV. HOSPITAL ELIGIBILITY FOR DIVERSION
A. CT scanner inoperative (CT divert). If a hospital’s CT scanner is inoperative, diversion of
specific ambulance patients as specified in the EMS patient destination policy (EMS policy #9)
may be considered. These patients may include those with:
1. Suspected stroke – duration of signs and symptoms four hours or less.
2. New onset of altered consciousness for traumatic or medical reasons.
B. Internal Disaster (INT Divert): A hospital is eligible for internal disaster divert whenever a
“physical plant” internal disaster has occurred that has rendered emergency department
services unavailable to the public, e.g., bomb threat, fire, power outage or explosion.
C. Cardiac Cath Lab Inoperative (STEMI Divert). If a STEMI Receiving Center’s cardiac
catheterization lab becomes inoperative due to maintenance or equipment failure, diversion of
STEMI alert patients may be considered in accordance with the EMS STEMI Triage and
Destination policy (EMS policy #25).
V. PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING, IMPLEMENTING AND CANCELLING DIVERT STATUS
A. Obtain authorization from hospital administration according to hospital’s internal procedures.
B. Update appropriate diversion status on ReddiNet the Hospital Status section.
C. If diversion is anticipated to be prolonged, notify the EMS Agency (during normal working hours)
or contact the EMS Duty officer (after-hours).
C. Internal Disaster only: In the circumstance of hospital internal disaster the facility is to notify
Sheriff’s dispatch (925-646-2441) of the nature of the emergency and request dispatch to notify
all ambulance providers and the EMS Duty Officer.
D. To re-establish normal ambulance traffic, the hospital will update appropriate diversion status
field on ReddiNet. If ReddiNet is unavailable, the hospital is to contact Sheriff’s dispatch and
request that they notify all ambulance providers and the EMS Duty Officer.
1 Formerly known as Physical Plant Casualty