Smarter Care, Better Outcomes: How Mobile Technology Is Changing the EMS Landscape
I’ve enjoyed the privilege of working with and outfitting emergency first responders with the latest in mobile technology for many years now and in this position, it’s not difficult to see just how important the right tools can be in situations where unpredictable and rapidly evolving challenges can often be a matter of life and death. Luckily, mobile technology solutions are offering EMS workers new ways to respond more quickly, more intelligently and more effectively as they work to provide care in the field. From connecting patients to doctors long before they reach a hospital to ensuring that paramedics and other in-field health workers have access to the information they need to make smart care decisions, mobile technology is making a vital difference for those who rely on EMS services.
A new eBook, published in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services, showcases how EMS systems across the United States are putting the latest mobile hardware and software to work to improve patient outcomes and better serve their communities. This is a great resource for EMS practitioners to learn how their peers across the country are using technology to improve the way they work in different areas of emergency medicine.
Directing Appropriate Care
Discover how first responders in Houston are using rugged mobile tablets and mobile video conferencing technologies to connect doctors to patients at emergency sites and triage them remotely. For a city like Houston, which sees more than 800,000 911 calls each year, many of which do not require immediate attention at a local hospital, having a way to assess and evaluate patients before a trip to the emergency room represents a major opportunity to serve their community more efficiently. As part of an initiative called The ETHAN (Emergency TeleHealth and Navigation) Project, the city of Houston is using Panasonic Toughpad G1 tablets and wireless LTE connectivity to limit the number of unnecessary ambulance rides, freeing up emergency resources for those who need them most.
Faster Access to Patient Records in the Field
When EMTs and paramedics arrive at the site of an emergency, they can’t always be certain that the patient they’re working to treat will be able to share critical details of their medical history. In the chaotic and unpredictable work of emergency response, it is more likely than not that a patient will be, at best, dazed and possibly even unresponsive. With the threat of allergies or harmful drug interactions resulting from a lack of knowledge about a patient’s history, access to accurate, timely medical records in-the-field can be the one thing that stands between providing expert care and making a mistake that jeopardizes a patient’s health.
Learn about how EMS responders in Orange County, California are utilizing ePCR software on mobile devices to access electronic medical records during emergency calls, giving them much needed information about a patient’s medical history, medications, and other key data points that can affect both initial care decisions and long-term outcomes.
To hear from healthcare and technology experts on how these technologies can – and should – be deployed to solve critical problems and deliver vital insights into emergency care, we invite you to download the Technology-Facilitated Innovation eBook today.
