Indiana to End Routine Hospital Ambulance Diversions to Improve Patient Care
Indiana state health officials and emergency healthcare partners are discontinuing the practice of routine hospital ambulance diversion, effective Tuesday. This practice previously allowed hospitals to redirect ambulances to other facilities during periods of high patient volume to prevent overcrowding in emergency rooms. The decision was a collaborative effort involving emergency medicine providers, nurses, hospitals, EMS professionals, and fire services. Officials believe that routine diversions can lead to unintended consequences for patient care, including increased strain on EMS resources, longer transport times, and delays in continuity of care. Moving forward, hospital diversions will only be permitted in rare circumstances, such as during disasters or critical infrastructure failures. Indianapolis hospitals have already successfully ceased this practice. 
