of calls that may require certain interventions , such as blood transfusions .
CCEMS is one of 116 agencies in the U . S . to have prehospital blood administration capabilities .
“ Cabell County EMS has been a long-time , valuable partner in helping us provide lifesaving emergency care ,” says Angie Swearingen , COO of SMMC . “ This program allows us to enhance that care through providing lifesaving blood product resources when time is of the essence .”
According to CCEMS Director Gordon Merry , whole blood is liquid gold in the trauma world and very difficult to obtain .
“ Working together with St . Mary ’ s , this program will allow us to utilize this precious resource through our trauma services ,” he says .
The pre-hospital blood administration pilot program is approved by the West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services . West Virginia is the first state to have statewide pre-hospital blood administration protocols .
Studies across the country have shown that pre-hospital blood administration has significantly improved outcomes for patients with hemorrhagic shock . Hemorrhage related to trauma is the leading cause of death in the U . S . for people 46 and under .
BMH Welcomes Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist
Boone Memorial Health ( BMH ) is pleased to announce
Barry Dicicco , M . D ., FCCP , FACP , joined its growing team of medical specialists in January .
Board certified in pulmonary , critical care and sleep disorder medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine , Dicicco is welcoming patients in need of care for respiratory and sleep disorders .
“ There is tremendous need for pulmonary care in Southern West Virginia ,” says BMH President and CEO Virgil Underwood . “ Our goal is to continually improve our patients ’ access to high-quality care close to home , and we are so pleased to once again expand that access with the addition of such a highly qualified and experienced pulmonologist to our team .”
Having actively practiced medicine for more than 35 years , Dicicco has extensive experience diagnosing and treating conditions that include asthma , chronic bronchitis , COPD , emphysema , insomnia , lung cancer , lung disease , pneumonia , pulmonary fibrosis , pulmonary hypertension , sleep apnea , tuberculosis and more . He will also provide evaluation and direction for the sleep studies performed at the BMH Sleep Center .
Dicicco graduated magna cume laude from Yale University prior to receiving his medical degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . He then continued his medical education at Georgetown University Hospital , where he completed a residency in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine .
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