Greene County heart attack patients will have an increased chance of a positive outcome with the addition of Lucas Device Systems to two Greene County Emergency Medical Services ambulances.
The devices were purchased with funding from the Iowa Department of Public Health, with the funds contingent upon EMT and paramedic personnel receiving training on the device. That was accomplished Sept. 20 at a countywide training hosted by Greene County EMS. Dennis Morlan, owner of Greene County EMS did the training.
The Luas device is a mechanical means of doing chest compressions usually done manually as part of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Using a Lucas device frees paramedics to provide more skilled care, Morlan explained to the county supervisors when he met with them Sept. 6. CPR is only 35 percent effective, while use of a Lucas device is 100 percent effective. “Having this machine can make a great change in patient outcome,” he said.
The cost of each device is $10,000. Greene County Medical Center was also pursing funding from IDPH for a Lucas device.
