Hackensack University Medical Center Now Offers Whole Blood Through EMS

Source: Hackensack University Medical Center

HACKENSACK, NJ—Imagine the scene: a serious car accident on Route 80. First responders arrive to find a critically injured driver trapped in the wreckage, losing blood rapidly. Every second counts.

In the past, paramedics could only stabilize trauma patients and rush them to the hospital, hoping they'd survive the journey. But now, EMS with Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) have a new lifeline on wheels.

Thanks to a recently expanded blood bank license and regulatory waiver from the New Jersey Department of Health, specially trained HUMC paramedics are permitted to carry blood to administer blood transfusions right there at the scene or during transport. This seemingly small change is already making a monumental difference in the lives of trauma patients, including a man involved in a table saw accident to his abdomen.

“Numerous studies show that giving whole blood on scene can be immensely beneficial, decreasing prehospital and early-hospital mortality,” said Chief Flight Nurse Joseph Solda, who has been overseeing the HUMC EMS Air Medical whole blood program since 2021. 

“We are proud to be the first Advanced Life Support program in New Jersey to offer this lifesaving treatment,” said Michelle Kobayashi, MBA, MSN, RN, director of Hackensack Meridian Health’s Transfer Center, HUMC EMS, and Emergency Community Operations.

For someone experiencing severe hemorrhage, the body can go into hemorrhagic shock. Blood pressure plummets, oxygen can't reach vital organs, and the body struggles to form blood clots to stop the bleeding. This is exactly what happened to a man injured while using the table saw. 

When the transporting ambulance called the MICCOM dispatch center to let the HUMC trauma team know they were coming with a sick patient, Dispatcher Sean Kennedy immediately identified the patient’s condition as being in shock related to his traumatic injury based on the dispatch protocols. “I offered the paramedic unit and the blood to help this patient and made sure the paramedics knew where to intercept the ambulance on the way to the hospital,” Kennedy said.

Prehospital blood transfusions are a game-changer in these scenarios. By immediately replacing lost blood, paramedics can:

• Help restore blood volume to stabilize blood pressure and ensure oxygen flow to vital organs.
• Provide the necessary components for the body to form clots and stop bleeding more effectively.
• Buy more time for the patients while transport continues, increasing their chances of survival and a full recovery.

HUMC’s EMS team said carrying blood on board empowers them.

“The impact of our actions truly hit home when we saw the patient's condition turn around. The patient’s skin color and mental status both improved,” shared Paramedic Katie Murphy.

“We are confident that our ability to offer this groundbreaking care will make a significant difference in the lives of our patients,” said Lisa Tank, MD, FACP, MBA, president and chief hospital executive of Hackensack University Medical Center. “This crucial advancement in emergency medicine is transforming trauma care, giving patients a fighting chance when every second matters.”