Accountability
From ambulance diversions to a federal bill
1/2020
In 2020, U.S. Rep. Bobby L. Rush of Illinois introduced a bill (https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hr5727ih/pdf/BILLS-116hr5727ih.pdf) requiring hospitals to report ambulance diversions to the federal government and providing for a study by the National Academy of Medicine of ways to reduce this phenomenon, which can put patients’ lives at risk.
This legislative step followed the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s investigation into the death toll related to diversions (https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/2019/10/28/ambulance-diversion-least-21-deaths-tied-hospital-bypass/4064119002/) and solutions reporting on how Massachusetts banned the practice of turning away ambulances (https://projects.jsonline.com/news/2019/11/22/busy-hospitals-say-they-must-turn-away-ambulances-one-state-banned-practice.html). The reporting also led to hearings in the Wisconsin State Legislature.
This legislative step followed the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s investigation into the death toll related to diversions (https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/investigations/2019/10/28/ambulance-diversion-least-21-deaths-tied-hospital-bypass/4064119002/) and solutions reporting on how Massachusetts banned the practice of turning away ambulances (https://projects.jsonline.com/news/2019/11/22/busy-hospitals-say-they-must-turn-away-ambulances-one-state-banned-practice.html). The reporting also led to hearings in the Wisconsin State Legislature.