Stroke care doesn't begin at the hospital doors, and it doesn't end with treatment.

In this episode of the CATRAC Podcast, we sit down with Sarah Andrews, Chair of the CATRAC Stroke Workgroup, to discuss the importance of coordinated stroke systems of care across Central Texas. Douglas Havron, Executive Director of CATRAC, shares a personal story of how stroke has affected his family.

We explore how EMS agencies, hospitals, and regional partners work together to improve stroke recognition, streamline treatment, and strengthen patient outcomes. From prehospital care to regional collaboration, discover why building an effective stroke system takes more than any single organization.

Join us for a personal conversation about collaboration, communication, and the ongoing effort to improve stroke care throughout Central Texas.

Be sure to check out catrac.org to learn more about the various workgroups

In this episode of The CATRAC Podcast, Douglas Havron talks with Josh Todd, a Division Chief with Austin–Travis County EMS and chair of the regional Whole Blood Workgroup, about bringing prehospital whole blood to more communities across Central Texas.

They discuss what it takes to build the program across EMS agencies, blood providers, and hospitals: portable refrigeration, real-time tracking, and a shared system for documenting transfusions and returning patient outcomes to crews. They also explain how rotating blood into higher-use areas and hospitals helps reduce waste while keeping it available in rural communities.

Josh and Douglas close with the work still ahead, including donor recruitment, deciding where blood resources are most needed, and funding the program for the long term.

CATRAC Executive Director and CEO Douglas Havron sits down with Rhonda Manor-Coombes, BSN, RN, TCRN, Chair of the Injury Prevention and Education Committee, to explore how collaboration and education can prevent injuries before they happen.

They discuss CATRAC’s data-driven safety campaigns, Stop the Bleed and hands-only CPR training, BEFAST stroke awareness, firearm and car-seat safety, and the importance of connecting hospitals, EMS agencies, and the community. Rhonda also previews the upcoming CATRAC symposium, including its separate prehospital and hospital education tracks and a pediatric mega-simulation following the patient from the field through hospital care.

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