Ambulance Patient Offload Times

When patients arrive at hospitals via ambulance, the goal is to transfer them to hospital care as quickly as possible. But that process can be slowed by several factors: the physical layout of a hospital, current unprecedented patient volume, increased acuity of patients’ illness or injury, and more.

To make these transfers faster and more efficient, hospitals partner with their local fired departments, EMS providers, their local emergency medical services agencies (LEMSAs), as well as the state regulator, the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) to improve the process.

Assembly Bill (AB) 40 Implementation

The emergency regulations to implement AB 40 were submitted to the Office of Administrative Law and then withdrawn by EMSA. EMSA will be working to resubmit an improved version of the regulations. CHA submitted a letter in the initial comment period and awaits the release of updated regulations.

AB 40 – APOT Reduction Protocol

In 2023, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 40, requiring hospitals to submit APOT reduction protocols by September 1, 2024 and report updates annually. CHA has developed a checklist to help members meet this requirement.

Download the checklist