I will soon be introducing legislation to improve emergency medical care for individuals who have undergone a laryngectomy—a life-altering surgical procedure that results in permanent changes to a patient’s airway and breathing.

Laryngectomy patients are obligatory neck breathers, meaning they breathe exclusively through a stoma in their neck. In emergency situations, this critical detail is often overlooked or misunderstood, leading to delayed or improper care. A national survey found that over 17% of laryngectomy patients who required emergency care reported that medical personnel were unaware of how to treat them appropriately. In some cases, this has resulted in life-threatening complications.

To address this gap, my legislation—the Laryngectomy Emergency Care Access Act—would require all licensed ambulances and quick response service (QRS) vehicles in Pennsylvania to display a QR code in the patient care area. This code would link to a Department of Health-approved digital resource containing:

• Emergency airway management protocols for laryngectomy patients
• Visual guides for identifying stomas and how to care for them properly
• Contact information for regional medical control or laryngectomy support services

This simple, low-cost solution will ensure that every EMS provider in the Commonwealth has immediate access to life-saving information when seconds matter most.

I invite you to join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to protect some of our most vulnerable patients and support our first responders with the tools they need to deliver safe, informed care.