By using the EFR MedCom recently unveiled by MedRed, emergency medical responders can have healthcare technology embedded into their handsets to have improved situational awareness, management and patient outcomes during emergency response.

MedRed develops, manufactures and sells Personal Health Records (PHR) and Clinical Support Systems (CDSS) to both government and commercial markets. The U.S. Army’s Telemedicine Advanced Technology Research Center supported the development of EFR MedCom which is a software app that enables medical emergency responders at local, state and federal levels to have effective communication and coordination in emergency situations like catastrophic accidents, natural disasters and terror attacks.

MedRed has partnered with the National Health Information Network to allow emergency responders to share and respond to critical health data during emergencies. The new product was unveiled at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) 2009 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago.

EFR MedCom permits real-time capture and communication of critical medical data through an electronic medical record embedded in an interactive hand-held computer. Emergency responders are enabled to promptly provide the best care possible by on-board, computer-assisted decision support. Patient symptoms are checked against established medical protocols to provide immediate suggestions on diagnoses, interventions and therapies at the point of care.

Medical responders can get near instantaneous voice and text guidance from the control and command center through their handheld devices. The communications to the devices are amplified by Cellular and MESH network enabled on the devices. Personal can also get decision support from the control center for twenty two medical disciplines, including Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons and Blast Injury. The technology embedded in the EFR MedCom also allows first responders the ability to download relevant health information from the National Health Information Network (NHIN) and Google (News - Alert) Health and then communicate the data to key personnel, health centers and agencies nationwide to help formulate and activate response plans.

Dr. William K. Smith, founder of MedRed, commented that real time communication and accurate info are the critical aspects in order to save lives during emergencies and first responders on the ground need to be able to collect health information quickly and share the data broadly with others in order to formulate the best plan of action. And it all needs to happen in real time and on the go. They have designed the EFR MedCom to allow responders have the ability to these levels of intense communication and coordination during emergencies.

He added that their solution connects people on the ground with experts around the country to navigate complex emergency situations and solve serious health threats.

Related news: