West Penn Allegheny Health System (WPAHS) has recently announced the launch of the iPhone version of its EMS Field Partner application. The unique app was conceptualized by emergency medical services (EMS) professionals at WPAHS and developed by Ritter Technologies of Dingolfing, Germany. The app is the first of its kind and has advanced capabilities for triaging patients and transporting them to hospitals. A single touch from the app can hasten the dispatch of a medical helicopter, and send vital EKG heart studies to Emergency Units within a matter of seconds. The Android version and the iPhone version are free and available for immediate download.
In a release, Dr. Thomas Campbell, chairman of the Department of Emergency Medicine at WPAHS, said that, “It all adds up to helping first responders provide more expeditious and effective care for their patients. Innovative smart phone applications are being pioneered almost daily as organizations and businesses strive to be leaders in their respective markets. It occurred to us that if any industry could truly benefit from this technology it’s the field of emergency medical care, where timely information and interaction between healthcare professionals can be the difference between life and death for someone who has suffered a health emergency.”
Some of the key functions of the EMS Field Partner application include, identifies Hospital Specialty Treatment; transmits vital EKG heart studies and patient triage system instantly; provides in detail directions through Google maps from the scene of the emergency to nearest WPAHS hospitals; contains WPAHS Staff references and contact information; offers Education Reference and Online Registration which is required for full activation and takes less than 5 minutes to complete; connects EMS professionals to all the WHAPS emergency ward physicians around the clock; and contains the WPAHS EMS Pocket Reference. The app can also provide a direct link to West Penn Allegheny’s LifeFlight Command Center, which enables users to gain access and summon a medical helicopter and a built-in GPS in the app provides LifeFlight dispatchers with the exact location of the EMS crew.
Jeff Polana, director of pre-hospital operations at Alle-Kiski Medical Center said that, “As the technology advances, we will continue to incorporate new elements into the product. The possibilities are really exciting looking into the future. We had conceptualized the EMS Field Partner app last year after meeting representatives from Ritter Technology at a conference.”
Carolyn John is a Contributor to HealthTechZone. To read more of her articles, please columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
