ENA Thanks House for Passage of H.R. 304, the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act

DES PLAINES, Ill., Nov. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Emergency Nurses Association applauds the House of Representatives for passing the Protecting Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act yesterday. H.R. 304 will ensure emergency medical services (EMS) agencies can continue to use standing orders to administer controlled substances when treating patients who require emergency care.

Absent Congressional action, the well-established practice of using standing orders by EMS agencies will be endangered and as a result, patients may lose access to life-saving medications in emergency situations. Standing orders are pre-set protocols which EMS practitioners follow in the delivery of emergency care.

This important bill was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), and in the Senate by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). The bill now will be sent to President Trump for his signature.

About the Emergency Nurses Association
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership. Founded in 1970, ENA has proven to be an indispensable resource to the global emergency nursing community. With more than 42,000 members worldwide, ENA advocates for patient safety, develops industry-leading practice standards and guidelines, and guides emergency healthcare public policy. ENA members have expertise in triage, patient care, disaster preparedness, and all aspects of emergency care. Additional information is available at www.ena.org.

ENA Media Contact:
Marie Grimaldi
Director, PR & Communications
847-460-4080
[email protected]

SOURCE Emergency Nurses Association

Related Links

http://www.ena.org