American Medical Response to Begin Carrying Non-Opioid Pain Medication on all Ambulances

The NH Bureau of EMS Medical Control Board added the option for all NH advanced life support service ambulance services to begin carrying Ketamine in early 2018 at the discretion of their individual service Medical Director. The State Medical Control Board developed and issued specific Ketamine administration protocols for all NH paramedics. 

Ketamine is not an opioid and is now an additional choice for pre-hospital analgesic treatment regimens and in certain cases. It has also been shown to be just as effective (in the short term) as morphine for pain management in the emergency setting for multiple reasons: 

•    Used for pain management and sedation
•    Does not cause respiratory depression
•    Can be used to sedate patients in excited/agitated delirium
•    Safe alternative to opioids

“Having Ketamine as an additional option for our medics allows them to expand their options for safe and effective pain control for our patients.  In the midst of the opioid epidemic we are continually looking for ways to utilize less addictive clinically effective alternatives for pain management”, said Chris Stawasz, AMR Regional Director. 

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About American Medical Response (AMR) 
American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.8 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR also provides fire services through Rural Metro Fire Department, www.ruralmetrofire.com, and managed transportation services through Access2Care, www.access2care.net. AMR is a subsidiary of Global Medical Response, www.GlobalMedicalResponse.com. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow American Medical Response on Facebook @AMR_Social on Twitter and Instagram.