The Ambulance Service of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) yesterday launched a new telemetry service, allowing paramedic crews responding to an emergency involving a suspected heart attack, to transmit vital information from the scene. The telemetry service, currently fitted to 60 ambulances in the fleet, allows paramedic crews to record and transmit the patient’s Electrocardiograph (ECG) from the scene to the clinical team leader in the National Control Centre (NCC). The clinical team leader then makes an informed decision as to whether the patient should be transported to the Heart Hospital or to Hamad General Hospital. If the patient is being transferred to the Heart Hospital, the ECG is transmitted from the Life Pack 15 machines to the Heart Hospital for the Cardiologist to look at before the patient arrives. This enables staff at the Heart Hospital to be prepared with the appropriate intervention required for the patient before his arrival. Dr Loua Al Shaikh, Chief Physician of the Ambulance Service said that when dealing with heart attacks, timing is crucial. “This new equipment will streamline the process of transmitting information about the patient to the doctor who will be receiving the patient at Heart Hospital and ensure more informed clinical decisions can be made in advance and therefore treatment for the patient can begin sooner,” he said. Dr Abdulrazak A Gehani, Chairman of Cardiology at the Heart Hospital said the ability to wirelessly transfer the patient’s ECG to the hospital is a remarkable advance in process. “It not only speeds up the diagnosis of the patient but also allows us to be prepared as we are receiving a full picture of the patient’s condition,” he said. “Apart from transmitting the ECG, the system also sends across other important data such as blood pressure, heart rhythm and rate, amount of oxygen in blood and other vital information about their condition.” An enhanced version of the system where the ECG will simultaneously be transmitted to the smartphone of the cardiologist who is on call, will be introduced soon,” he said. Source : Qatar Chronicle

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