May 23, 2012
by
Curt Bashford
Mobile Telemedicine for Emergency Medical Services
Mobile (EMS) Telemedicine is the next frontier in pre-hospital healthcare. Live interact video conference, or simple store & forward of images & data will enabling improved assessments by paramedics under the direction of a physician or specialists for both treatment and decision support for getting patients transported to the appropriate facility (trauma/stroke/burn), by the appropriate method (car/ambulance/helicopter), and preparing the team at the hospital prior to arrival. In addition, EMS telemedicine provides the ability to perform in the field treat & release, or scheduled follow-up care to reduce unnecessary transports to overcrowded emergency departments and hospital readmissions - thereby reducing healthcare costs.