Emergency Medical Services

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How Do We Stop Relying on 911 to Handle Mental Health Crises?

Almost half of Americans are afraid that 911 is not a safe option to call for someone undergoing a behavioral health problem—and with good reason. Broader advertising and outreach about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is necessary. People simply can't call what they don't know about.

Stephanie Brooks Holliday

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U.S. Labor Market, 988 Hotline, Firearm Homicides: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the U.S. economy’s uneven pandemic recovery, a new national mental health hotline, firearm homicides, and more.

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Overturning Roe, a New Mental Health Hotline, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how repealing Roe v. Wade could affect women in the military, whether America is prepared to launch a new emergency mental health hotline, Russia's war in Ukraine, and more.

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Will the New 988 Hotline Be a Game Changer for Mental Health or a Missed Opportunity?

Someone dies from suicide in the United States every 11 minutes, a rate that has increased almost 30 percent since 2000. The 988 mental health hotline will launch on July 16, but states need to clear significant hurdles: funding the expanded crisis response system and making sure people know it's available.

Ryan K. McBain @ryankmcbain, Stephanie Brooks Holliday

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RAND's New President, the U.S. Foreign Service, Transportation Equity: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on RAND's next president and CEO, Jason Matheny, insights into Americans' views on diplomacy and diplomats, solutions for transportation equity, and more.

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COVID Could Surge Anywhere. This Tool Helps Hospitals Prepare

The number of new coronavirus cases is growing in most states. As the pandemic continues to strain U.S. health care systems, a tool developed by RAND researchers can help hospitals prepare for the worst.

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Siren Song: How Ambulance Data Could Help Police Forces in England and Wales

Ambulance data is a new form of intelligence which may have value for violence prevention or reduction activities. Police forces can use this data to help identify violent crime that goes unreported to police, and aid problem-solving activities to reduce and prevent violence.

Alex Sutherland, Lucy Strang

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Can Ambulance Data Help Police Forces Do More with Less?

Police forces in England and Wales may not be aware of a large proportion of violent incidents taking place in their areas. Ambulance data could contribute to a more complete picture of violent crime and help police target resources more effectively.

Alex Sutherland, Lucy Strang

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Anticipating Harvey's Toll on Health and Health Care

After Hurricane Harvey, challenges to the health of affected communities and the health care systems that serve them are expected to grow. Among the problems are closures of hospitals, pharmacies, and dialysis centers. Lessons from Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy could help relief efforts.

Mahshid Abir, Richard Serino

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Lessons for First Responders on the Front Lines of Terrorism

Given the persistent risk of terrorist attacks, it is critical to learn from past incidents to prepare for future ones. Medical and nonmedical first responders need more training in basic lifesaving skills. Open communication lines such as a dedicated radio frequency could help responders better coordinate. Disaster drills are also essential.

Mahshid Abir, Christopher Nelson

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Need a Doctor Now? Solve the Acute Care Crisis

Many Americans struggle to receive acute care when they need it. The health care system is not focused on meeting unscheduled needs. Reforming acute care delivery will require making it a policy and research priority.

Mahshid Abir, Brendan G. Carr

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Cholera in Haiti: No Surprise This Time Around

When Hurricane Matthew swept across Haiti, it left a resurgence of cholera in its wake. Tackling cholera head-on should be on the short list of health priorities for disaster relief in the island nation.

Melinda Moore

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Saving Lives After Tragedy

Natural and man-made mass-casualty incidents are a growing threat. Evaluating successes and shortcomings after each crisis can contribute to the design and implementation of robust and resilient response systems and ensure the best possible outcomes for individuals and impacted communities.

Mahshid Abir, Christopher Nelson

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Another Nepal Earthquake Makes Disaster Relief Planning Even More Important

Leadership, coordination, communication, and involvement of local stakeholders are critical in order to mount an informed response to natural disasters. Improved disaster management in Nepal could help limit the suffering of impacted communities and help secure a more successful recovery in the long run.

Mahshid Abir, Melinda Moore

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Small Ideas for Saving Big Health Care Dollars (No. 4-7)

Focusing on smaller, more focused approaches can identify less controversial opportunities for modest health care savings.

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Small Ideas for Saving Big Health Care Dollars (No. 1-3)

Focusing on smaller, more focused approaches can identify less controversial opportunities for modest health care savings.

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What to Do About 'Futile' Critical Care

There are times when no amount of care, however cutting-edge it is, will save a patient. In these instances, further critical care is said to be “futile.” This type of treatment is not uncommon in intensive care units, and that raises some uncomfortable questions.

Neil S. Wenger

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Covering Emergency Care for Young Adults: Is the ACA Doing Its Job?

The dependent coverage provision of the Affordable Care Act is working as intended, say Andrew Mulcahy and Katherine Harris. In 2011, it spared individuals and hospitals from $147 million in emergency room costs.

Andrew W. Mulcahy @AndrewWMulcahy, Katherine M. Harris

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From Boston to Oklahoma—Lessons for the Regional Trauma Response System

Three mass-casualty events occurring in three very different settings show that disaster preparedness should not be limited to large cities or “target” areas in the United States. One trait that is common to all such events is the need for coordinated, responsive trauma care for victims.

Mahshid Abir, Stewart D. Wang

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Applying What Works to Reduce Non-Urgent Emergency Department Use

It is likely that communities with low rates of non-urgent ED use not only have better access to primary care, but patients who are educated about appropriate care seeking and convenient alternatives for acute care, writes Lori Uscher-Pines.

Lori Uscher-Pines

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When CPR Is the Wrong Call: Mistaking Medical Treatment for Care

If a medical treatment worked only a fraction of the time and resulted in bad outcomes more often than not, practitioners would not make this treatment the default approach. Yet that is exactly what has happened when it comes to CPR for individuals 85 years and older who suffer cardiac arrest in a community setting.

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Caring for the Uninsured: What Role Do Emergency Rooms Play?

Absent from the discussion about health care during the first debate between President Barack Obama and Governor Mitt Romney was any mention of one of the main providers of care for America's uninsured: emergency rooms. What does research tell us about the use of ERs and the relevant implications on health care access and cost?

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Be Hungry or Be Sick? Proposed Medi-Cal Co-Pay Could Force the Choice for Many

The $15 co-pay a mother is expected to cover represents half of a full week's food costs under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's

Arthur L. Kellermann, Robin M. Weinick

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Attempts by States to Save Money by Locking Medicaid Enrollees out of the ED Are Likely to Backfire

In a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, we argue that attempts by states to save money by seeking to lock Medicaid enrollees out of the emergency department are likely to backfire. We argue that a better solution is to reverse what for many years has been a trend of shrinking access to primary care for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Robin M. Weinick

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Emergency Departments, Medicaid Costs, and Access to Primary Care—Understanding the Link

The fact that many ED (emergency department) visits could be managed in primary care settings does not mean that such care is available, write Arthur L. Kellermann and Robin M. Weinick.

Arthur L. Kellermann, Robin M. Weinick