TEMPE, AZ. September 28, 2012 - The Ramsey Social Justice Foundation recently made a generous and life saving donation to a federally funded study in Arizona, which is aimed at helping to save lives resulting from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This important donation will advance TBI care in Arizona, across the nation, and around the world.

The Foundation donated life saving emergency medical equipment for integration into a novel statewide emergency medical services (EMS) project researching the neurological outcomes of victims of moderate and severe TBI in Arizona. The project is called EPIC (Excellence in Prehospitallnjury Care). EPIC is a unique partnership between private ambulance companies, municipal fire departments, the University of Arizona, and the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). The EPIC Project is a 5-year National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded study, which is the first federally funded study of its kind.

TBI claims the lives of thousands every year in Arizona and affects not only the middle-aged and elderly but young adults and children as well (see Age-specific Rates of Incidents and Case Fatality for TBI). Historically there was very little EMS systems could do to impact the outcomes of TBI injuries, but recent scientific advances have changed that.

The first few minutes after a TBI occurs are believed to be the most crucial for the patient’s outcome by optimally managing blood pressure, oxygen delivery, and how we ventilate (breathe for) patients. The study will track results of outcomes using the innovative technology donated through the Foundation.

“This means that we can actually dramatically alter the trajectory of that person’s life (and their families). This advance could save thousands of lives every year across the country and help TBI victims go back home with their families and go back to school or work,” said Dr. Dan Spaite, Endowed Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Arizona.

“This unique partnership aimed at improving the process of emergency care and saving lives is exactly the type of public-private partnership which Bob Ramsey pioneered in EMS, and we are now using that model to help folks with TBI,” remarked ADHS Director Will Humble.

Dr. Ben Bobrow, Medical Director for EMS at the ADHS said, “The new equipment that the Ramsey Foundation donated goes to EMS agencies, which otherwise did not have access to these devices, to help paramedics carry out the EPIC Project. This is so crucial because without this equipment, we often resort to providing care the way we did for years, and we now know we can do much better.”

The equipment donated by the Ramsey Social Justice Foundation is being distributed to EMS agencies across Arizona that will participate in the EPIC Project. The goal is to make sure every responding EMS unit in Arizona has these life saving devices on hand.

Mr. Ramsey said, “Our community services foundation is very pleased to partner with Arizona EMS agencies for dramatic impact and clinical practice in improving patient care for those suffering an emergency medical condition for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).”

Bob Ramsey and his wife Jenny Norton’s Foundation addresses not only issues of EMS, and well ness, but also homelessness, education for the marginalized, and global stewardship, and it is a member of the Clinton Global Initiative.

http://ramseyjusticefoundation.org/music.html
http://www.epic.arizona.edu/
http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/statistics.html