AUSTIN, Texas: Exciting Findings from the ESO 2025 EMS Index

In a groundbreaking revelation, the ESO has released its highly-anticipated 2025 EMS Index, analyzing over 3,000 EMS agencies and a whopping 12.5 million 911 calls from 2024. This comprehensive report not only benchmarks EMS performance against national averages but also uncovers critical insights that could revolutionize patient care.

"These statistics are more than just data points; they tell the stories of real patients whose lives can be profoundly changed through informed practices and innovative protocols," emphasized Dr. Brent Myers, M.D., MPH, the chief medical officer at ESO. He assured that the index's five new metrics are designed to deliver a holistic overview of the current EMS landscape, paving the way for breakthroughs that could save lives.

Key Highlights from the Index

1. **Decline in Opioid Overdose Calls**: Notable progress was seen with calls related to suspected opioid overdoses, which dropped to 136,300—now only 1% of all EMS calls, down from 2% last year. This aligns with the CDC's findings on the national decline in overdose deaths.

2. **Maternal Care Disparities**: The findings revealed troubling disparities in maternal care. While 20% of white patients with postpartum hemorrhage received vital treatments like tranexamic acid (TXA), only 3% of Black patients and 8.5% of Hispanic patients received the same. Given that the U.S. has the highest maternal mortality rates among developed nations, the recent introduction of new EMS protocols for obstetric emergencies will play a crucial role in addressing this urgent issue.

3. **Airway Safety Protocols**: Alarmingly, only 64% of invasive airway procedures in adults and 62% in children were accompanied by documented waveform capnography, a key method for verifying airway placement. The ESO anticipates refining this measure for more accurate future assessments.

4. **Rise in Pediatric Behavioral Health Emergencies**: An eye-opening trend shows that 13% of pediatric EMS encounters involved behavioral health emergencies, suggesting a critical need for alternative care solutions as many children were discharged from the Emergency Department.

5. **Increased Use of Whole Blood**: Whole blood has emerged as the predominant blood product utilized in ground EMS, proving practical and low-risk for critically ill patients.

This year's index also introduces a progressive longitudinal patient record ID system, allowing for better tracking of frequently-engaged EMS patients. A significant 20% of patients are found to rely on EMS services more than once a year, highlighting an opportunity to transition non-emergent care to primary care settings.

Looking Ahead: Opportunities for Improvement

While these findings are encouraging, they also reveal areas needing urgent attention. The ESO's index serves not just as a dataset but as a call to action for the EMS community to harness this information to enhance patient outcomes. Together, we can pave the path towards more equitable healthcare, ensuring every patient receives the care they need in their time of crisis.