The Correlation between COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Emergency Medical Services Responses for Time-Sensitive Emergencies during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective: COVID-19 has had significant secondary effects on health care systems, including effects on emergency medical services (EMS) responses for time-sensitive emergencies. We evaluated the correlation between COVID-19 hospitalizations and EMS responses for time-sensitive emergencies in a large EMS system.

Methods: This was a retrospective study using data from the Los Angeles County EMS Agency.

Emergency Medical Services Responses to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Suspected ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Los Angeles County.

Background Public health emergencies may significantly impact emergency medical services responses to cardiovascular emergencies. We compared emergency medical services responses to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and ST-segment‒elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to 2018 to 2019 and evaluated the impact of California's March 19, 2020 stay-at-home order. Methods and Results We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using Los Angeles County emergency medical services registry data for adult patients with paramedic provider impression (PI) of OHCA or STEMI from February through May in 2018 to 2020.

Increased Access to and Use of Endovascular Therapy Following Implementation of a 2-Tiered Regional Stroke System.

Background and Purpose- We quantified population access to endovascular-capable centers, timing, and rates of thrombectomy in Los Angeles County before and after implementing 2-tiered routing in a regional stroke system of care. Methods- In 2018, the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency implemented transport of patients with suspected large vessel occlusions identified by Los Angeles Motor Scale ≥4 directly to designated endovascular-capable centers. We calculated population access to a designated endovascular-capable center within 30 minutes comparing 2016, before 2-tiered system planning began, to 2018 after implementation.