Louisiana lawmakers have passed a bill that would allow ambulances to deliver patients with non–life-threatening illnesses directly to urgent care centers in East Baton Rouge Parish. Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center has volunteered to accept low-acuity ambulance patients at its 24/7 urgent care facility as part of the pilot program. The legislation is expected to help address poor access to emergency care in the area since one hospital closed and another shut down its emergency room. Our Lady of the Lake is also working with the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals to explore expanding services at another location. If successful, the program could be a model for other parishes—and other states—to adopt similar practices.
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Pilot Program Will Have Ambulances Pulling Up to Urgent Care