MD1: Bringing the Emergency Department to the Patient

MD1 Program - better known as MD1™️ - is a nonprofit organization which deploys specialized doctors to the scenes of emergencies throughout New Jersey. When a patient is trapped in a vehicle and cannot get to a hospital quickly, MD1 Physicians deliver state-of-the-art equipment and perform advanced, life-saving procedures directly at the patient’s location. MD1 Physicians keep emergency vehicles with them at all times so they can respond quickly when requested. Services come at no charge to any patient, hospital, or healthcare system, thanks to generous donations from MD1 supporters.
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MD1’s capabilities include the provision of whole blood, also known as low titer O whole blood, a high quality blood product that is carried by only a handful of organizations across the country. Additional MD1 mobile capabilities include services such as ultrasounds, surgical procedures, invasive catheterizations, and dispensation of over 60 medications, including antibiotics.

MD1 Physicians are emergency medicine physicians who have completed one extra year of specialized training in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), or the treatment of patients outside of the hospital. They are available to respond to emergencies across the entire state of New Jersey, 24/7. Almost every MD1 Physician was either an emergency medical technician (EMT), paramedic, firefighter, police officer, or member of the military before going to medical school, further enforcing their EMS experience, skills, and ability to work cohesively with other emergency response personnel on scene.

Any first responder in New Jersey - police, fire, or EMS - can request MD1 to a location by calling a dispatch center where trained individuals are always ready to deploy MD1. MD1 services are requested primarily any time there is a delay in transporting a patient to a hospital, such as someone who is trapped in a car at the scene of a car collision or when multiple patients are injured simultaneously. For such patients who cannot be transported to the hospital in a timely manner, MD1 Physicians can be requested to the scene to provide life-saving interventions. According to Dr. Mark Merlin, CEO and Founder of MD1, “Our doctors have extensive training to provide the same level of care outside of the hospital that patients would normally receive inside of the hospital, when circumstances delay transport to the hospital. By administering medications, delivery of whole blood, and performing advanced procedures in the field, right at the patient’s location, MD1 has been able to improve survival rates and save lives in New Jersey.”

MD1 services are rendered without qualification to the general public in New Jersey. MD1 is an independent nonprofit organization which never charges any patient, hospital, or healthcare system for its services. The program relies heavily on donations from corporations and individuals through its 501(c)(3) foundation, as well as grants, to sustain its charitable mission.

For more information on MD1, please visit our website, www.MD1program.org.

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