Emergency situations are unexpected and strike when you are least prepared or thought that they would happen. They will not give enough time to react but demand you to act at your best. Be it any type of emergency, every second plays a crucial part in saving the life and your every act counts. You may have to act appropriately under severe pressure. 

More than anything, the steps taken by the paramedics in the first 10 minutes of the ‘incident’ is what determines the fate of the victim. In such immense pressure where the difference between life and death are decided by paramedics, it is imperative for them to work as a team. 

Sufficient medical equipment to provide medical support to the individual en-route to the hospital on the ambulance, a skilled medical team that is trained and efficient and capable ambulance driver make a better team. On top of this there is another significant factor that connects the ambulance to the hospital effectively and it is called Emergency Communication System (ECS).

The primary function of ECS is to make sure that the one-way and two-way communication between the ambulance staff and the hospital. It ensures the paramedics on the ambulance and the medical team at the hospital work as a team without any communication gaps. The real-time communication between both the parties helps to understand and analyze the exact scenario and take medical actions.

Over the past decade, the communication technology has improved a lot. See the mobile phone in your hand to believe how advanced the Information and Technology industry has improved in just 10 years. The unified communication system delivers the highest form of medical care to the people onboard compared to the earlier methods of medical transportation.

The following are the recent upgrades to Emergency Communication System that are being used, worldwide. 

1. Telemedicine
   The applications of Telemedicine are taking the medical support on wheels to a new stage. Through this advanced communication system, the doctors and specialists can view the individual, their medical records and the vital readings before providing the medical help. The ease of sending and receiving the health informatics through this mechanism helps the doctors to perform advanced diagnostics for better help.

 

2. Global Positioning System
   The satellite-based navigation system let the hospital team know the exact location of the ambulance. It also helps the driver and the emergency or the non-emergency ambulance operator to analyze and find the best way to reach the hospital while reducing the time of journey significantly. The advanced system foresees the traffic, road-blocks and communicates the same to the driver.

 

3. Operational Communication Equipment (OCE)
   The OCE make sure that communication barriers are avoided during an emergency. The communication receivers and the senders help the operational team in understanding the real-time scenario. In addition, this equipment is a must in Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances.

 

4. Integrated Medical Computer and Network System
   It is not an instrument but the mechanism that receives, comprehends and send the appropriate messages. The emergency touch-points at both ends (hospital and ambulance) form a team of seamless communication operators. The trained professionals mainly coordinate with all touch-points during the medical emergency and provide the optimum care on wheels.

As a whole, all these improvements have helped significantly in medical transportation sector enabling the paramedics to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) to the individuals in medical need. Few ambulances will be equipped enough medical equipment that the paramedics can perform small medical procedures. This is where the communication helps the medical team at the hospitals to view the person who is receiving the medical aid and provide instructions.