Geo-Mapping Helps Identify High-Need Areas for Prehospital Blood Transfusions

Study shows data-driven approach can improve trauma care equity in cities

Apr. 17, 2026 at 1:05am

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A translucent, ghostly X-ray image of a human heart and blood vessels, glowing against a dark background, conceptually representing the life-saving potential of prehospital blood transfusions.An X-ray-like image reveals the critical role of prehospital blood transfusions in saving trauma victims' lives.Omaha Today

A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that using geo-mapping to analyze hospital data on massive transfusions can help identify areas with the greatest need for prehospital whole blood resources. The researchers used trauma registry data, assault and motor vehicle crash data, and household income data to create maps that revealed high-need areas, allowing for more efficient deployment of scarce blood products.

Why it matters

Providing quick access to blood before a patient arrives at the hospital can be the difference between life and death for trauma victims. However, the majority of ambulances in the U.S. still do not carry blood. This study offers a data-driven approach to addressing disparities in prehospital trauma care by targeting blood resources to the areas that need them most.

The details

The study retrospectively analyzed data on 427 trauma patients who received massive transfusion protocol at five trauma centers in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska between June 2019 and March 2025. Researchers used geo-mapping to identify patterns of where trauma incidents occur and whether they correlate with where patients who received massive transfusions are coming from. They found strong correlations between activation for massive transfusion protocol and distributions for blunt and penetrating trauma, which were concentrated in the downtown areas of the respective cities.

  • The study analyzed data from June 2019 to March 2025.
  • The study was presented at the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma Region 7 annual meeting in December 2024 and the Southwest Surgical Congress in April 2025.

The players

Nicolle K. Barmettler, MD

A general surgery resident at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) division of trauma in Omaha and the lead study author.

Omaha Fire Department

Collaborated with UNMC and the city of Omaha to implement a prehospital blood program based on the findings of this study.

University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)

The institution where the lead author is a resident and where the study was conducted.

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What they’re saying

“We found out they do. Statistical analysis demonstrated strong correlations between activation for massive trauma protocol and distributions for blunt and penetrating trauma, both of which were concentrated in the downtown areas of the respective cities.”

— Nicolle K. Barmettler, MD, General surgery resident

“This shows that we can use in-hospital massive transfusion as an indicator of patients who would have benefited from prehospital blood transfusion.”

— Nicolle K. Barmettler, MD, General surgery resident

What’s next

The city of Omaha, in collaboration with UNMC and the Omaha Fire Department, has already used this study as a foundation for its own prehospital blood program. Future research includes conducting a prospective study to analyze outcomes of that initiative and perform a cost analysis of patients who receive whole blood before arriving at the hospital.

The takeaway

This study provides a scalable, data-driven model for geo-mapping that could be used by any hospital system to identify high-need areas for prehospital whole blood resources and improve equity in trauma care. Targeting scarce blood products to the areas that need them most can help save lives and reduce waste.