Essex-Windsor EMS is using new technology to improve patient outcomes.
Essex County Council has approved $2.3-million for the purchase of 60 new defibrillators which will allow paramedics to send patient vitals to the hospital from the scene of a call.
EMS Chief Bruce Krauter says the new units will replace the current ones which were purchased in 2012 and have reached the end of their shelf life.
He says cardiologists will now be able to make arrangements before a patient arrives.
"The new defibrillators have the ability to transmit data that we're experiencing in real time directly to a cardiologist's smart phone, iPad, computer 24-hours a day, seven days a week. What that will do is allow the cardiologist to see exactly what the paramedics see."
Krauter says the technology integrates with other organizations as well.
"This technology was provided by the Erie St. Clair LHIN not only for Essex-Windsor EMS, but for the Municipality of Chatham-Kent EMS and Lambton EMS. It will allow any of those entities, if they're going into Windsor Regional Hospital, to transmit to Ouellette Campus."
Essex-Windsor EMS Chief Bruce Krauter speaks at paramedic commencement ceremony. (Photo by AM800's Peter Langille)
He says, there's no question, the new defibs will save lives.
"More than likely, it's going to be to notify them to activate the Cath lab, they have an emergency patient coming in, so that we can get the patient to the treatment quicker and get better results. We're getting really good results right now, this is just an added tool to increase the treatment for the patient."
The new defibrillators are expected to be in the field sometime in June.
The units currently in use are being sold to EMS Surplus Canada for a $440,000 return to the county.