PROVIDENCE – Speedy information on a patient’s condition is vital when a hospital is preparing to receive a patient from a rescue call, an element of care where Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center, both part of CharterCARE Health Partners, have an edge as the first adopters in Rhode Island of the medical communication app Twiage.
With the app, EMS teams can send videos or photos of patients and information such as symptoms, medications or tests such as an EKG performed on the rescue. The information can help the Emergency Department team better assess needs while preparing for the patient’s arrival. Twiage also allows EMS professionals to provide accurate GPS tracking of their vehicle, so hospitals have a more accurate idea of arrival time.
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“Timely care is essential – and in some cases, lifesaving – when it comes to emergency medicine,” said Rebecca Broccoli, associate director, emergency services, CharterCARE. “Real-time information and GPS tracking for incoming rescues allows us to better prepare for an ambulance’s arrival, so we can accelerate potentially lifesaving emergency care.”
With this information in advance, staff in the Emergency Department can map out a course of action for patients before their arrival. The information is then transmitted back to the paramedic through the app, which reduces time in the emergency room waiting area and introduces the patient more quickly to direct care. This can be especially important when a patient is exhibiting symptoms of a stroke or similar condition where immediate care is critical.
“CharterCARE has a history of leadership in emergency medicine,” said John J. Holiver, CharterCARE CEO. “We are home to the state’s only elder-friendly hospital emergency departments, were the first to post our ED wait times on our websites and now are the first to utilize Twiage.”
“We are proud to be the first hospitals in Rhode Island to utilize Twiage,” said Dr. John Jardine, EMS Director for CharterCARE. “By embracing this innovation, we are ensuring patients get diagnosed and treated more quickly, which can make a tremendous difference in both outcomes and a patient’s experience.”
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
