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CATHERINE W GICHUKI
DOHA
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Ambulance Service has launched new high-tech patient transport vehicles, fleet management system and electronic patient clinical system.
The vehicles will be used for non-emergency transfers including moving patients from one HMC hospital to another as well as transporting patients with mobility problems from their home to a hospital for their appointments such as for dialysis appointments.
The fleet includes 20 vehicles for non-emergency patients.
Over 50,000 non-emergency patients are transferred every year.
Speaking to media persons Executive Director Ambulance Service Brendon David Morris said that the vehicles have been designed in consultation with the patients who use them, adding that vehicles are equipped with windows to enable patients to enjoy outside view, fridges, USB charging points and Wi-Fi hotspots.
"There is a group of patients who we have a regular relation with. Unlike the emergency service, these are patients we see on a regular basis. Because of this relationship, we invited the patients to tell us what is important to them inside the design of the vehicle that would carry them everyday," said Morris.
According to him, one of the patients' suggestions was to be able to see outside when they are being transported.
"This is why we design the vehicles with wide window with lower frosting to give the patients an opportunity to see outside since this is one of the opportunities they have to get out of their homes. The window is halfway frosted and the patient's dignity is protected."
In addition, the patient has the flexibility to choose whether to use a wheel chair or stretcher.
According to Morris, the need to provide some water refreshments after dialysis treatment has been considered by incorporating a special fridge in the vehicles.
He said,"Patients can also make use of their electronic devices since we provide them with a wireless network in the vehicle so that they can get online."
Talking about the new electronic patient record, Morris said,"Previously patients' records were done on a paper. Now, we have an electronic platform. This means that we can be more accurate in our records taking and all the patient hospital record will be available."
According to him, there are 20 new vehicles in the country.
"We have to make sure that our fleet is constantly renewed," he said.
The advanced fleet management system, the CareMonX Patient Transport Services Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) and CareMonX Mobile Data Terminal systems, manages all call-taking, triaging and dispatching activities for scheduled services involving patient transport and Mobile Healthcare Service home visits throughout Qatar.
On his part, Executive Director of the Healthcare Coordination Service Thomas Reimann said,"With the go-live of the management system, we are able to track our ambulance units more accurately, allowing us to better manage capacity in real time and plan future resources more efficiently.
"The electronic patient clinical record enables clinical information about the patient's condition to be sent by our paramedics to the hospital receiving team while the patient is still being transported in the ambulance. On arrival at the hospital, the receiving nurse is able to scan the barcode on the electronic patient clinical record and the patient's data is automatically added to the Clinical Information System. The end result of these new technologies is a more efficient and effective service for our patients."
In a statement, Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al Kuwari said,"The advanced vehicles launched today highlight our commitment to continuously expanding and upgrading the full spectrum of services across the entire health sector.
"The life-saving nature of the Ambulance Service's emergency response teams is well documented, but less well known is the role that the non-emergency teams fulfil. I am delighted to officially launch this new vehicle fleet and both the management and patient record technology, and to highlight the important contribution of the Ambulance Service to the daily lives of many patients."
