Kaua‘i’s ambulance service is in the process of getting upgraded to provide a better emergency-response system on the island, according to Zack Octavio, Kaua‘i island manager of American Medical Response. “We just got two new ambulances with a third one
Kaua‘i’s ambulance service is in the process of getting upgraded to provide a better emergency-response system on the island, according to Zack Octavio, Kaua‘i island manager of American Medical Response.
“We just got two new ambulances with a third one en route,” Octavio said. “On Aug. 24, we will go live with a new electronic charting program.”
John Hrabovsky of Med Media just finished the installation and training of AMR staff at the five Kaua‘i stations Thursday, Octavio said.
Med Media is the main provider for the electronic charting system that connects each of the five AMR stations with Kaua‘i’s hospitals, as well as Octavio’s office.
A laptop computer in the ambulance is connected with a main computer terminal at the station.
When responding, the AMR crew fills in the appropriate blanks and the resulting form is transmitted wirelessly to a hospital, where printouts can be studied by staff awaiting the ambulance.
“If some of the form is not filled out, or filled out incorrectly, the computer warns the crew,” Kyle Swigart, an AMR Emergency Medical Technician said. “It has a built-in double-check system.”
Once the incident has been stabilized, Octavio said, the laptop is synchronized with the station computer. The information then is uploaded to a central storage facility at Hershey, Pa.-based Med Media.
Octavio said 14 or 15 states currently work with the system.
The database also allows Octavio to position Kaua‘i’s manpower where it is needed. It provides peak response times and allows him to have paramedics and EMTs available for responses.
“This is all in real time, too,” Octavio said. “If a crew on the Westside is responding, an alarm flashes on my screen, and I get the report just as the hospital is getting theirs.”
The new ambulances will replace aging vehicles and update the fleet, Octavio said. Two stations received new vehicles in 2002. With the three new ambulances, Octavio said, “Our oldest vehicle will be 2002.”
AMR replaces aging vehicles based on age or mileage, Octavio said. One replacement ambulance is a 1995 model with less than half the mileage that would trigger a replacement, he said.
The new vehicles will provide a quieter and smoother ride, Octavio said. Two of the ambulances are Ford E-450s, which are large vehicles, and the third is a Ford E-350, a van-type ambulance that will be stationed in Waimea.
“They have less responses, plus they do some off-road work like getting up to Koke‘e,” Octavio said. “It works perfectly for them.”
Octavio said three of the current Kaua‘i staff are undergoing training to upgrade their status from EMT to paramedic.
Octavio said AMR is commited to providing Kaua‘i with the latest and best medical response treatment.
“We’re here for the community if they need us,” Octavio said.
