HLB Impact: Providing pro bono regulatory counsel to support the deployment of innovative emergency response technology in underserved communities worldwide
Trek Medics International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving emergency medical systems (EMS) in communities that lack reliable access to emergency care and transportation. Through innovative programs and partnerships, the organization helps underserved regions build sustainable systems for emergency response and patient transport.
Hooper, Lundy & Bookman has provided pro bono legal counsel to Trek Medics since 2014, advising on regulatory and operational issues as the organization expands its global health initiatives.
One of Trek Medics’ key innovations is Beacon, a text-message–based emergency response platform designed for communities without a traditional 911 dispatch system. The platform allows local responders to coordinate emergency care and transportation using widely available mobile technology. To support Trek Medics’ development and testing of Beacon, HLB attorneys analyzed the application of Good Samaritan laws in potential testing jurisdictions and provided legal guidance to support the pilot deployment of the platform.
More recently, Trek Medics received funding from the Cisco Foundation and the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation to build tools that will allow emergency care providers to document and analyze their response operations and interventions through the Beacon platform. HLB advised on the technical requirements for these tools and continues to provide regulatory guidance as the project progresses.
Current pro bono work focuses on health privacy compliance, including advising on HIPAA considerations, business associate agreements, and strategies to minimize the creation and use of protected health information as the Beacon system interacts with hospitals and healthcare providers.
“Through our pro bono partnership with Trek Medics, we are proud to support an organization that is leveraging technology and community collaboration to expand access to lifesaving emergency care.” Stanton Stock, Partner
Through this partnership, Hooper, Lundy & Bookman helps Trek Medics navigate complex health care regulations so the organization can focus on expanding access to lifesaving emergency care.
“Thanks to HLB, we’ve been able to navigate the complicated ins-and-outs of digital health recordkeeping to ensure Beacon maintains the highest security and privacy controls and ultimately allows us to provide resource-limited response agencies with a robust platform they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford.” Jason Friesen, Founder & Executive Director of Trek Medics.
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