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LoginSaturday, February 04, 2012
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LifeTrac Deployed in Southwest Alabama
LifeTrac Deployed in Southwest Alabama
Twelve hospitals in seven south Alabama counties became part of a statewide trauma system that directs emergency workers to the most appropriate and available hospital emergency departments. This system utilizes LifeTrac for data communications.
Dr. Donald Williamson, health officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health,stated, "The system will ensure that patients who are injured will go to the right hospital the first time. We think this has real potential to improve outcomes."
Before the trauma system was activated, healthcare workers said, emergency personnel took a patient to the closest hospital to the accident site, if no preference was given. Sometimes a medical center doesn't have the appropriate equipment or staff to care for the person, health officials said, and moving the patient again costs valuable minutes.
The new trauma system connects participating hospitals through the use of a computer system monitored 24 hours a day, according to Choona Lang, state trauma program administrator.
Mona Ladnier, operations supervisor for the private ambulance service Lifeguard, said she expects the system to shorten the time it takes to get trauma patients to the best-equipped emergency room.
Ladnier said emergency workers will now make one phone call -- to the trauma system center -- instead of several calls, which was sometimes the case.
"Those couple of minutes could mean a big difference in the patient's outcome," Ladnier said. "The quicker they can get what they need, the better."
In 2007 state lawmakers approved expansion of the statewide trauma system, which is led by the Department of Public Health. Programs in north Alabama and Birmingham have provided coverage to almost half of the state's residents, Lang said.
The addition of the Gulf region includes Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Mobile, Monroe and Washington counties.
The hospitals voluntarily taking part in the trauma system are University of South Alabama Medical Center, Springhill Medical Center, Thomas Hospital, Atmore Community Hospital, D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital, Grove Hill Memorial Hospital, Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Infirmary West, Jackson Medical Center, Monroe County Medical Center, North Baldwin Infirmary and South Baldwin Regional Medical Center.
Studies show that trauma is the leading cause of death for Americans younger than 45.
Dr. John Campbell, state medical director for the Emergency Management System, said he's worked for years to see this program get off the ground. "It's going to save lives for years and years," he said, "long after we are gone."
Before the trauma system was activated, health officials said, emergency workers took a patient to the closest hospital, if the person did not give a preference.
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Posted on Monday, September 14, 2009
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