Laura Levis Story Prompts Somerville Aldermen Order

SOMERVILLE, MA – An order introduced at the Somerville Board of Aldermen meeting last week would address how the city's emergency services handle calls and enhance the education surrounding asthma attacks, according to the Somerville Journal. The order comes after a Boston Globe Magazine story detailed the death of Laura Levis outside the Somerville Hospital emergency room two years ago.

The story was written by Levis's husband, Peter DeMarco, and described the events of Sept. 16, 2016. Levis brought herself to the hospital in the midst of an asthma attack, found the door locked and called 911. She was found near the entrance to the ER about 10 minutes after placing the call, according to the Boston Globe.

Levis died in the intensive care unit at CHA Cambridge Hospital seven days later. She was 34.

Cambridge Health Alliance, Somerville Hospital's parent organization, apologized for its role on Levis's death after DeMarco's story received national attention. The organization issued a statement last week to NBC Nightly News, which read in part, "We could have done better, and we will do better. There are no words to express our sorrow over the loss of Ms. Levis. More importantly, for the role we played in compounding her family’s grief, we are deeply sorry."

A spokesperson for the Cambridge Health Alliance told the Globe the hospital has since improved access to the emergency room, communication between emergency services and hospital staff and education regarding defined responsibilities of those involved in patient treatment.

At the Board of Aldermen meeting Thursday night, DeMarco publicly asked Somerville Hospital officials to meet with him and discuss what has changed since Levis's death, the Somerville Journal reported.

Alderwoman Stephanie Hirsch and others introduced an order asking police and fire officials to discuss the routing process and geo-locating ability for emergency calls and how each department addresses a 911 call and health officials to provide education plans on asthma attacks.

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