Use of broadband communications technology in EMS

[Guest guest]

A recent article in Urgent Communications (formerly Mobile Radio Times,

mostly writes about police, fire, ems and emergency communications)

made the assertion that EMS would make significant use of broadband

technology if it were available.

See article at:

http://urgentcomm.com/mobile_data/mag/emergency-medical-services/

What do you folks think?

BTW, the article makes extensive use of the " Golden Hour " concept to

support the need for these technologies and talks about potentially

earlier launches for helicopters so I am guessing that there will be

lots of comments....

Kelley Stalder

Fire

EMS Coordinator

[Guest guest]

I can't tell you the last time I talked to an actual doctor when

calling report, it is usually a nurse. I work in the city, so my

transport times are usually 5-10 minutes to the local hospital and

15-20 minutes to the medical center here in Houston.

It would be cool if I could swipe someone's driver's license and get

their medical records (at least allergies and medical problems) for

those who are either unresponsive or those who speak a different

language I don't understand and/or speak.

Here is something that kind of made me stop and think...

" A prime example for the need for EMS broadband connectivity is the

emergence of remote CT scan devices, which offer considerable promise.

When a patient has suffered stroke symptoms, a CT scan reading can

help determine the proper treatment path, McGinnis said.

McGinnis said he believes a hospital specialist likely would want to

see the CT scan, but the only way to share a digital copy of the scan

in sufficient detail to make such a critical determination in a timely

manner is to have broadband connectivity between the ambulance and the

hospital. Other desired applications require similar data rates. "

Are they talking about doing CT's in an ambulance?

-Nate

[Guest guest]

They are indeed talking about CT in an ambulance.

Kelley

> I can't tell you the last time I talked to an actual doctor when

> calling report, it is usually a nurse. I work in the city, so my

> transport times are usually 5-10 minutes to the local hospital and

> 15-20 minutes to the medical center here in Houston.

>

> It would be cool if I could swipe someone's driver's license and get

> their medical records (at least allergies and medical problems) for

> those who are either unresponsive or those who speak a different

> language I don't understand and/or speak.

>

> Here is something that kind of made me stop and think...

>

> " A prime example for the need for EMS broadband connectivity is the

> emergence of remote CT scan devices, which offer considerable promise.

> When a patient has suffered stroke symptoms, a CT scan reading can

> help determine the proper treatment path, McGinnis said.

>

> McGinnis said he believes a hospital specialist likely would want to

> see the CT scan, but the only way to share a digital copy of the scan

> in sufficient detail to make such a critical determination in a timely

> manner is to have broadband connectivity between the ambulance and the

> hospital. Other desired applications require similar data rates. "

>

> Are they talking about doing CT's in an ambulance?

>

> -Nate

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I guess that works for rural services, but here in the city we are

usually at a hospital pretty quick. We also don't have any of those

monster sized ambulances, I'm guessing that is what it would take to

have a CT machine on an ambulance.

-Nate

>

> > I can't tell you the last time I talked to an actual doctor when

> > calling report, it is usually a nurse. I work in the city, so my

> > transport times are usually 5-10 minutes to the local hospital and

> > 15-20 minutes to the medical center here in Houston.

> >

> > It would be cool if I could swipe someone's driver's license and get

> > their medical records (at least allergies and medical problems) for

> > those who are either unresponsive or those who speak a different

> > language I don't understand and/or speak.

> >

> > Here is something that kind of made me stop and think...

> >

> > " A prime example for the need for EMS broadband connectivity is the

> > emergence of remote CT scan devices, which offer considerable promise.

> > When a patient has suffered stroke symptoms, a CT scan reading can

> > help determine the proper treatment path, McGinnis said.

> >

> > McGinnis said he believes a hospital specialist likely would want to

> > see the CT scan, but the only way to share a digital copy of the scan

> > in sufficient detail to make such a critical determination in a timely

> > manner is to have broadband connectivity between the ambulance and the

> > hospital. Other desired applications require similar data rates. "

> >

> > Are they talking about doing CT's in an ambulance?

> >

> > -Nate

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>