India is known as the subcontinent, and despite having a large population in the hundreds of crores, the ambulance-to-people ratio in the country is lower than expected.
Accidents kill many people all over India, with the primary cause being a lack of medical attention provided in the critical hour following the accident.
Blood loss and other injuries are major causes of death, but what is most concerning is that most people are unaware of the first aid steps that must be taken to give people that extra minute of fighting time.
People die because they are afraid to help people in need, afraid to be good Samaritans when people ask for help and those who help face an acute shortage of emergency ambulance services because they are already overburdened with such calls.
The emergency ambulance services from government hospitals are almost always full; there are other ambulance vendors in the private sector, but it becomes a nightmare trying to find an ambulance that is available in the current location of need.
It all comes down to luck and locating the appropriate ambulance to transport the person to safety and emergency medical treatment.
Adoption and deployment of technology like online ambulance booking in India to support improved EMS performance across the entire continuum of care is a critical solution. For a country with a rapidly growing and aging population, technology can help solve some of the most complex and prevalent problems in EMS.
The recent revolution in digital systems has altered the way information is stored, processed, and communicated. Furthermore, the emergence of robust wireless broadband networks, deep data analytics, and powerful mobile computing capabilities can all play an important role in defining how EMS will be conceptualized and delivered to the masses in the future.
GPS-enabled ambulances equipped with cameras and portable ECG machines can send critical information to doctors and emergency rooms before the patient arrives at the hospital. Each minute that emergency treatment is delayed reduces the chances of survival by 7-10%. As a result, another critical benefit of digitization is that ambulances can be dispatched to patients from the nearest possible location, making the entire process faster, traceable, and trackable.
Furthermore, it aids in the dissemination of information to all stakeholders in order to provide a comprehensive emergency medical service:
- Drivers have information about the patient’s location, condition, and contact details. Paramedics are well informed and prepared about the patient’s condition and prepare accordingly. Patients and their relatives can check the location of ambulances as well as the information of drivers and paramedics.
An integrated and connected system that allows EMS to share the patient’s historical medical records with the ED can help save a life. It would allow ED personnel to make more informed decisions and achieve better health outcomes.
The ambulance and paramedic crew currently do not have direct or easy access to patient records, so they have a very limited understanding of what a patient tells them about their health condition. In a country like India, where paramedic staff training is not standardized, a lack of information can complicate any diagnosis. When paramedics arrive in Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances and are ready to act, a lot depends on the patient’s previous medical history. A linked database management system will aid in the correct patient diagnosis.
In a country like India, technology has the potential to significantly improve the way EMS is delivered to the public. The sheer volume of emergency cases seen on a daily basis suggests that innovation in this field is urgently required. While gradual steps are being taken to overcome pre-existing barriers, technology has the potential to accelerate the process. It has the potential to save countless lives while also establishing a sustainable and effective framework for future generations.
