ROME, Ga.– Atrium Health Floyd Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is advancing care for Floyd County residents with the ability to deploy life-saving blood products on site. The introduction of blood and plasma transfusions before patients arrive at the hospital can dramatically improve patient outcomes. The service plans to extend this capability to Chattooga County in early 2026.
“When seconds count, early blood transfusion can mean the difference between life and death,” said Dr. Mac McKemie, Atrium Health Floyd trauma director and surgeon. “By bringing this capability into the field, Atrium Health Floyd EMS is setting a new standard for trauma care in our region. This program ensures patients receive critical interventions as quickly as possible, giving them the best chance for survival.”
This initiative reflects Atrium Health Floyd’s commitment to excellence in emergency and rural health and its dedication to leveraging hospital-based resources for the benefit of the communities we serve. The in-field transfusion program aligns with national best practices for trauma care and represents a significant step forward in rural and regional EMS capabilities.
“This program is a game-changer for pre-hospital care,” said Greg Goedert, Atrium Health Floyd EMS education manager. “By carrying blood products on our ambulances, we can begin life-saving interventions immediately, rather than waiting until the patient arrives at the hospital.”
Because Atrium Health Floyd EMS is hospital based, unused blood products carried by ambulance teams can be returned to stock. This significantly reduces waste of this vital, limited resource and ensures that every unit of blood serves its intended purpose — saving lives.
Atrium Health Floyd is the region’s only Level II Trauma Center verified by the American College of Surgeons. It provides the highest standard of care for critically injured patients in northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama. Atrium Health Floyd EMS is the state’s only four-time recipient of Georgia EMS of the Year Award. This new EMS initiative strengthens that commitment by extending advanced trauma care beyond hospital walls.
