Excellus allots $30,000 in funding for CNY ambulance modems

SYRACUSE  —  Upstate University Hospital will take a grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and use it to purchase electrocardiogram modems for ambulances in five Central New York counties.

Excellus, a Rochester–based nonprofit that is Central New York’s largest health insurer, promised to send $30,000 to Upstate’s Department of Emergency Medicine and Heart and Vascular Center. The Syracuse hospital plans to use the money to buy 37 electrocardiogram modems for up to 23 municipal and volunteer ambulance services in Cayuga, Cortland, Madison, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.

The modems — 12-lead electrocardiogram modems — transmit diagnostic information from patients with heart-attack symptoms. They allow first responders to send information to hospital emergency departments so that the medical centers are better prepared when patients arrive.

About 60 percent of emergency medical service providers in Central New York have 12-lead electrocardiogram capability, according to Excellus. Upstate, Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, and Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca can receive 12-lead transmissions from the modems set to be purchased.

“Providing access to high-quality health care for people who need it is core to our mission as a nonprofit health plan,” Excellus Regional President Dr. Arthur Vercillo said in a news release. “We’re pleased to support Upstate University Hospital in its efforts to expand the availability of lifesaving diagnostic technology to our neighbors in the community.”

Excellus is funding the grant from its Community and Member Health Improvement program. That program prioritizes grants for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, medication compliance, and patient safety.

Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com