The Fire Department of New York City (FDNY) is continuing its collaboration with New York City hospitals to implement an initiative called “New York City Project Hypothermia.” Project Hypothermia builds upon medical literature and findings that indicate that induced hypothermia through the cooling of patients suffering from certain types of cardiac arrests improves both survival rates and functional outcomes. It is anticipated that ambulances operating within the New York City Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system will transport certain cardiac arrest patients only to hospitals that provide therapeutic hypothermia. Eventually FDNY intends to introduce therapeutic hypothermia as part of the EMS system’s pre-hospital transport services. 

Background: Project Hypothermia evolved from an educational program offered in December 2007 by the GNYHA/United Hospital Fund Critical Care Leadership Network (CCLN). Launched in September 2006, CCLN was created to provide a regional forum for critical care and emergency department physicians and nurses across the region to come together and share clinical protocols, standardize practices, and develop educational programs. One of CCLN’s first programs highlighted the benefits of therapeutic hypothermia for patients suffering from cardiac arrest. Subsequent to the symposium, FDNY invited the directors of all of the intensive care units and emergency departments across New York City to discuss the development of a comprehensive, citywide protocol for providing therapeutic hypothermia to eligible cardiac arrest patients. Currently, representatives of 26 hospitals from all five boroughs participate in FDNY’s workgroup.

Data Collection: As part of Project Hypothermia, FDNY proposes to collect information from hospitals specific to each patient transported under Project Hypothermia for the purposes of quality assurance, research, and, ultimately, publication related to the protocol. GNYHA understands that FDNY has applied for approval of its protocol from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Institutional Review Board.  GNYHA will continue to monitor the progress of Project Hypothermia and develop additional educational programs for members. For further information about CCLN, contact Terri Straub or Zeynep Sumer at GNYHA