Updated: Aug 26, 1998
This is the most recent structured information on this project. Complementary data can be found on previous documents
AMBULANCE Mobile unit for healthcare provision via telematics support

Overview

Purpose and objectives

The main objective of this project is to develop a transportable medical device which can be used by mobile health care providers (ambulances, etc.) and allow remote monitoring, teleconferencing and teleconsulting between the mobile unit and specialist physicians in a hospital site. To ensure maximum portability, the device communications will be performed via cellular mobile links using the GSM digital standard.

In emergency situations with ambulance health care provision, there is usually a considerable time period before the patient can reach a site where qualified physicians can provide care. The proposed device will allow the bidirectional communication and information exchange between the paramedical personnel of the ambulance and expert physicians located at a specialized hospital. The physician could see a picture (still image) of the accident scene or the patient, while at the same time monitoring the patient's biosignals (ECG, blood pressure, temperature) and in countries with standardized medical record (like Sweden) the patient's medical history from a computerized medical record system. With such information he could advice paramedics on how handle the patient, and how to care for special situations such as diabetic patients. The availability of such expert knowledge at the scene would substantially increase the probability of the patient's survival.

Although the system will be initially designed to be used in ambulances, minor modifications will enable the use of the same device by rural doctors and remote health centers. The ultimate objective is to provide with a device that could be use to obtain fast and reliable medical information without the need of getting to a specialized health care institution. The system can be finally used by elderly or handicapped persons to monitor their health condition and to obtain medical instructions.

Results

Following the system integration workpackage, the verification phase was during which the demonstrator was validated on a small-scale process mainly performed at the Greek pilot sites (AMC & Medica) and complemented by the tests performed in Sweden, Italy and Cyprus. During this phase, and following user suggestions, adjustments were made to the system and a beta-functional demonstrator was built. The results of the validation phase were recorded, analyzed and reported. During the next phase, a large demonstration has been initiated and is currently performed. Demonstration activities include extensive use of the prototype within all participating pilot sites according to the demonstration scenario defined by the medical team, and presentation of the system to additional potential users. Demonstration activities are expected to complete by the end of 1997 and the results will be reported in the corresponding deliverable.

The task of exploiting the system has been commenced during the last reporting period and has been continued through the present reporting period. As a result of such activities, a detailed market survey has been performed and results were reported. Furthermore, the consortium has been discussing several exploitation scenaria based on an initial exploitation plan prepared during the reporting period. Initial discussions with the European branch of Physiocontrol, a leader in emergency and Ambulatory equipment has resulted in an agreement to combine the AMBULANCE system with a defibrillator the company is currently designing to maximize the potential benefits of emergency telemedicine. Presently, an exploitation plan for the AMBULANCE project is under preparation and is expected to be available by October 97. In the context of exploitation activities, additional system test users are being sought; explanatory contacts have already been made with other organizations to verify the system. Furthermore, the consortium has produced a project newsletter that has been distributed to individuals and companies in the field. Finally, a number of presentations in conferences and workshops have been given and will be more intensive after the demonstration results become available

List of deliverables

Year 1

• User Requirements Report (Month 4, Restricted)
• Quality Assurance protocols for the demonstrator design (Month 6, Restricted)
• Medical Server & Terminal Specifications Sheet (Month 6, Restricted)
• AMBULANCE Demonstrator Architecture (Month 8, Restricted)

Year 2

• First fully functional prototype (Month 15, Restricted)
• Report on the Verification protocols & procedures (Month17, Restricted)
• Verification Evaluation Benchmarks (Month18, Restricted)
• Market survey (Month 18, Restricted)
• Report on the Demonstration protocols & procedures (Month20, Restricted)
• Demonstration Evaluation Benchmarks (Month 24, Restricted)
• AMBULANCE Final product (Month 24, Restricted)
• Market survey (Month 18, Restricted)
• Ambulance Product Business plan (Month 24, Restricted)

List of participants

	Copyright 1998 © EHTO All rights reserved This server is the only official EHTO WWW knowledge repository. Mail suggestions to: webmaster@ehto.org