Health Equity

At its October 15 legislative meeting, the DC Council passed legislation endorsed by MSDC to save lives and protect children from sudden health emergencies.

B25-570, the Cardiac Planning and Response (CPR) Amendment Act amends the Public Access to Automated External Defibrillator Act of 2000 to define the term cardiac emergency response plan and require schools to establish cardiac emergency response plans. MSDC joined a diverse coalition of public health organizations to promote the bill, which we expect will make it easier to respond quickly when someone has a cardiac emergency at school or on an athletic field.

Below is the testimony Dr. Ashesh Patel, MSDC President, delivered at the bill's hearing this summer.

February 8, 2024
 
Chair Phil Mendelson                    Councilmember Christina Henderson
Chair of the DC Council                    Chair, Committee on Health
1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW                1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20004                    Washington, DC 20004
 
Dear Chair Mendelson and Chair Henderson,
 
The Medical Society of the District of Columbia (MSDC) is the largest medical organization representing metropolitan Washington physicians in the District. We advocate on behalf of all 11,000 plus licensed physicians in the District and seek to make the District the nation’s model for patient care and physician practice.

I am testifying today in favor of B25-570, the Cardiac Planning and Response (CPR) Amendment Act. MSDC is a strong believer in public health and access to timely care, and little can save a life more than training and resources in an emergency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 2,000 people under the age of 25 die annually from sudden cardiac arrest. We have seen devastating examples of people who are physically fit felled by sudden cardiac arrest and in many cases, it is prior planning and access to equipment that save a person.

DC law already requires AED placement in every school and requires coach, trainer, and nurse training on how to use it, as well as requiring high schools to provide AED and CPR training. This bill goes beyond that to include best practice with minimal disruption by:
•    Requiring schools to develop evidence-based cardiac emergency response plans (CERPs)
•    Requiring schools with athletic programs to develop a plan for their athletic fields for games and practice

Why is a CERP important? It is a written document that establishes the specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting. While this may sound like an onerous requirement for schools and athletic departments, it is not. The American Heart Association and other health organizations have templates and resources to help schools “plug and play” a plan.

Please reach out to the MSDC office if our membership can be of assistance on these or any issue. We look forward to working with you and the Committee to make DC the nation’s model for patient care and physician practice.

Sincerely,


Ashesh D. Patel, MD FACP
President, Medical Society of DC