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Business & Tech

Oakwood, Trenton Paramedics to Use Bluetooth Technology to Help Critical Patients

Oakwood Southshore Medical Center and Trenton responders will be able to quickly transmit critical patient data to doctors and help cardiac patients and others before they even get to the hospital.

Oakwood Southshore Medical Center is planning to add the latest technology to their emergency medical responders early this year.

Paramedic crews for the Trenton and surrounding areas will soon be able to transmit vital patient information to the cell phones of physicians at Oakwood Southshore before a patient arrives.

According to Edith Hughes, division president of Oakwood Southshore Medical Center, this new technology is particularly useful when dealing with cardiac patients. The faster the patient receives essential care the better the odds for survival and recovery.  

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The new equipment works by using Bluetooth technology. Paramedics would be able to transmit data directly to doctors while a patient is still en route to the hospital—or even before they enter the ambulance. For example, a paramedic could be doing an evaluation in a patient's living room while sending information to physicians waiting at the hospital. 

Oakwood Hospital of Dearborn and other Oakwood locations have already introduced this new technology. Eventually, all Oakwood Health Systems will be using it.

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“Information is transmitted in as little as 0.3 seconds,” said Jeff Beutner, Dearborn Fire Department battalion chief of emergency medical services.

Hughes said the goal is to reduce the time it takes patients to go from contact with paramedics to the operating room. This is most important for patients who need emergency angioplasty or other critical cardiac needs.

Sending information in real time allows the hospital to activate the Cardiac Catheterization Lab earlier as patients are arriving. This allows for faster and more efficient patient care.

“Before I’ve even made radio contact or phone contact with the hospital, I’ve sent the messages off to the people who need to know," said Beutner. "It’s really, really significant.”

Hughes said that the new technology will be implemented within the first half of 2011.

"As technology continues to evolve, so does Southshore Medical Center," Hughes said. 

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