Prehospital emergency care model using short code access number for refining dispatching of ambulances and clinical communication for patient transfer–Insights from a Private Medical College and Hospital, Mysuru, India

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In healthcare, effective communication is essential, particularly in emergency situations, it is critical and important. This article suggests a prehospital emergency care model using short code access number, through which method of communication from dispatching of ambulances to arrival and handover of patients to hospital is facilitated in emergency instances. We also attempted to elaborate the procedure, we followed for establishing this emergency access number for this private medical college in South India. Practical recommendations are also provided for policymakers who wish to initiate such facilities. OBJECTIVES: To strengthen our prehospital emergency care with ambulance short code, to guarantee that it is flawlessly incorporated into the healthcare system and to promote public responsiveness in prehospital Emergencies. PROJECT METHODS: Establishment of in-hospital ambulance command center, using a project management cycle framework in the phases of planning, designing, training, and implementation. A needs assessment was conducted and a committee was developed with a multidisciplinary team for planning and implementing out this initiative. RESULTS: It was possible to implement hospital emergency short code access number for hospital ambulance operations along with the establishment of ambulance command center with a trained interdisciplinary team and achieve best practices by participating on refining existing infrastructure and human resources. CONCLUSION: Timely arrival of an ambulance can make the difference between survival and death, in life-threatening emergency situations in which every second counts. Our prehospital emergency care model will respond to the patient needs from the initial emergency request of ambulance and its dispatching to arrival of patient and his/her admission to the emergency medicine department of the hospital. Data generated by the program will be used to guide and design appropriate interventions.