New mother saved hours after innovative Medical City Arlington partnership launches
Arlington, Texas — Less than 48-hours after launching an innovative partnership that provides blood to EMS first responders in Arlington, first responders administered their first unit of blood in the field, saving the life of a new mother experiencing post-partum hemorrhage. The new partnership between Medical City Arlington, American Medical Response (AMR) and the Arlington Fire Department (AFD) equips select emergency vehicles with whole blood, red blood cells and plasma. This initiative enables trained personnel to start critical blood transfusions within minutes of arriving on the scene.
AMR responded to a 911 call for a 24-year-old Arlington woman experiencing severe postpartum hemorrhaging. Recently discharged from another hospital after giving birth, she was found with dangerously low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate and altered mental status— signs of potentially life-threatening blood loss. Medics administered blood in route to Medical City Arlington, a Level II Trauma Center, where she received additional transfusions before undergoing emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. She has since been released and is fully recovered at home, enjoying her recently expanded family.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the impact this initiative has for this community,” says Bradley Keegan, MD, City of Arlington medical director and Medical City Arlington emergency medicine physician. “Our EMS partners and emergency room staff saved the first patient using prehospital whole blood—a game-changer for emergency responders in the field. This success is the result of an incredible partnership with Medical City Arlington. It’s further proof that when hospitals and EMS work together, lives are changed—and saved—in our community.”
Uncontrolled bleeding remains a leading cause of preventable death following an accident or trauma. According to the American College of Surgeons (ACS), in a cohort of 1,105 injured military personnel, the risk of mortality at six hours was reduced by as much as 270% when whole blood was administered instead of component therapy.
“We’re honored to advance healthcare through this important partnership with AMR and the Arlington Fire Department,” says Sharn Barbarin, CEO of Medical City Arlington. “System wide excellence and innovation is why Medical City Arlington is the destination of choice in Arlington and the surrounding community.”
With a record number of visitors expected in Arlington next year because of the Grand Prix of Arlington F1 race and FIFA World Cup soccer, as well as overall increases in the volume of trauma cases, launching the partnership quickly became a community priority. Medical City Arlington will oversee the storage, tracking, and distribution of blood products for this effort, ensuring precious resources are used effectively and never go to waste.