Cross Border Ambulance Operations in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez Border Region. Is There a Need for a Protocol to Expedite Medical Transportation of Patients with Acute Neurological Illness? (P1.262)

Objective: The El Paso-Ciudad Juarez region is an unusual permeable border region with citizens from the United States commuting across the bridges on a daily basis, mainly to work in Mexico. Our aim is to assess the current procedure in the transportation of acute neurological patients across the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez Border Region in an era with new available and time critical neurological treatments. The Land Port Of Entries (LPOEs) that connects the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez bi-national metropolitan region contacts El Paso Fire department in case of emergent medical transportation. Methods: Data from El Paso Fire department from January 2014 - August 2015 was collected. Neurological conditions requiring medical transportation from Ciudad Juarez to El Paso were selected for review. Ambulance systems from Ciudad Juarez (Mexico) and El Paso (USA) were interviewed to understand the current process of transportation of ill patients across the border to a hospital in United States for care. Results: There was a total of 1309 emergency medical conditions transported across the bridges located in the El Paso-Ciudad Jaurez Border region. Of those, 99 (7.5[percnt]) had various emergency neurological conditions. Delays were identified in the transportation of patient across the border. The overall average time it takes from the dispatch of ambulances to the patient hospital arrival is 51.7 ± 24.7 (Minutes). This delay in the time also includes lack of pre notification to the LPOEs about arriving patients and to the Fire department in El Paso. Conclusion: There is a need for a protocol to expedite the transportation of patients across the border in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez border region. An expedited protocol could facilitate and shorten times of transportation which could likely result in improved outcomes. Disclosure: Dr. Salgado Manzano has nothing to disclose. Dr. Qureshi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Aldrete has nothing to disclose. Dr. Salazar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Maud has nothing to disclose. Dr. Cruz-Flores has nothing to disclose. Dr. Rodriguez has nothing to disclose.