Ambulance service adds to PC power

Scottish Ambulance (SA) plans to put networked PCs into its 1,000 emergency vehicles.

The multi-million pound project will cut response times, streamline casualty admission and provide valuable clinical data.

All emergency vehicles will have two computers. A PC in the cab will be linked to the control centre and will receive incident details such as the address, the patient's condition, and route navigation.

A system in the back of the ambulance will allow paramedics to electronically input information currently filled in on paper patient reports. The data, including patient details, treatment and vital sign measurements, can be sent ahead to the casualty department.

The system will benefit patients, ambulance crews and hospitals, says SA ICT manager Ian Shanley.

'Crews will receive more information so they can be better prepared, and the route navigation capability will improve response times,' he said.

The onboard systems will provide crews with access to up-to-date clinical databases, and treatment information can be used to analyse staff efficiency.

Initially, vehicles will connect to the network via on-board GPRS modems that are already used for location tracking. In the longer term, SA will upgrade its radio system to cope with the traffic.

Trials will begin next autumn and a contract will be signed by the end of the year, says Shanley.

'The service is moving towards more strategic deployment of vehicles, so rather than waiting at the station, ambulances are more likely to wait in high risk areas based on predictive analysis systems. These systems will let crews make the most of their time,' he said.