UT Health East Texas EMS Expands Access to Lifesaving Whole Blood in the Field
(L to R) Roy Langford, UT Health East Texas EMS safety director; Tim Null, UT Health East Texas EMS supervisor; Mandie Watson, president/CEO Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council; Kelentrea McGill, UT Health East Texas EMS supervisor; Dr. Yagnesh Desai, UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1 medical director.
Tyler, Texas (August 19, 2026) — UT Health East Texas EMS has expanded its prehospital blood program by equipping supervisor vehicles with new blood coolers, increasing the availability of whole blood for patients experiencing life-threatening medical emergencies and traumatic injuries.
The addition of the blood coolers allows specially trained EMS personnel to transport and administer whole blood more quickly in the field, improving access to a critical intervention when every minute counts.
“Early access to whole blood can be lifesaving for critically injured patients,” said Dr. Yagnesh Desai, UT Health East Texas EMS/AIR 1 medical director. “Equipping supervisor vehicles with whole blood will allow us to reach critical patients sooner and begin advanced treatment before they arrive at the hospital.”
For patients suffering from severe blood loss, whole blood can help restore circulation, improve oxygen delivery throughout the body and increase the chances of survival during the most critical moments of care.
The blood coolers were made possible through funding provided by the Piney Woods Regional Advisory Council (RAC), whose support is helping expand access to lifesaving treatment throughout the region.
“We are grateful to the Piney Woods RAC for its partnership and investment in the health of our communities,” said John Smith, UT Health East Texas EMS CEO. “Their support allows us to bridge the critical gap between the scene of an emergency and definitive hospital care, helping ensure patients receive the treatment they need as quickly as possible.”
About UT Health East Texas
UT Health East Texas provides care to thousands of patients each year through an extensive regional network that includes 9 hospitals, more than 90 clinics, the Olympic Plaza Tower, 13 regional rehabilitation facilities, two freestanding emergency centers, regional home health services, an EMS fleet of more than 65 ambulances and four helicopters, and a comprehensive eight-trauma center care network, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma facility.
As a partner with The University of Texas System, UT Health East Texas is uniquely positioned to provide patients with access to leading-edge research and clinical therapies while training and educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals. The nationally recognized UT System also includes The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, as well as three other major university medical centers located throughout the state.