A sophisticated data capturing technology to be introduced in the Western Cape is set to improve ambulance times.
|||A sophisticated data-capturing technology to be introduced in the Western Cape towards the end of the year is set to improve ambulance response times.
Launching the R250 million system last week, Health MEC Theuns Botha said not only would the new information and communication technology system improve data capturing at EMS call centres, but it would “get ambulance response to emergencies in the shortest time possible”.
To be run by information technology company Dimension Data in the next four years, the project would be phased in November and would see the existing 10177 communication-aided dispatch technology being upgraded to provide “fast and efficient data capturing and quick dispatching of emergency resources to incidents”.
Dr Shaheem de Vries, medical services manager at EMS, said once the implementation of the technology was complete in the next few years, it would allow EMS call centres to locate where the call was made.
“One of the problems we have in informal settlements is locating addresses. If your cellphone technology knows where you are, it would send that information to our system…” he said.
Once ambulance staff arrive on scene the new technology would also allow them to capture patient details electronically, which can then be sent to the hospital prior to the ambulance’s arrival. - Cape Argus
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