New 'smart' ambulance unveiled

A ‘smart’ ambulance that can transmit real-time information about patients en route is set to revolutionise communications between hospitals and emergency services.

Unveiled to ambulance authorities at a technology forum at Byron’s Smithfield plant in Sydney on Sunday 20 March, the Smart Ambulance is the result of an alliance between Byron Group and Ferno.

The new ambulance is designed to provide more efficient fleet management for ambulance services, improved communications about patient conditions with hospitals and an increased safety environment for paramedics.

Glen Walker, Byron’s chief executive officer, said the innovations represent a revolution in ambulance design and manufacturing in Australia.

“Hospital emergency departments will be able to track changes in the patient’s condition in real time like never before. The ambulance will transmit the patient’s vital information, such as ECG readings, and cameras inside the ambulance will enable the hospital to view the patient while in transit,” said Walker.

“When the ambulance arrives at the hospital, they will already know the patient’s condition. The improved data flow between the ambulance in transit and the hospital will save valuable time in the triage process where seconds are critical.”

The vehicle component system is designed to secure loose equipment inside the ambulance through track-mounted, magnetic pouches containing supplies and equipment. This allows paramedics to deliver patient care from a seated, restrained position, reducing the risk of injury from standing up in a moving vehicle to access supplies.

A 10-year study of the occupational risks for Australian paramedics, reported in the Medical Journal of Australia in 2014, found an average rate of 80 serious cases of injury per 1000 workers per year — seven times higher than the national average for all workers and twice the rate for police officers.

The Smart Ambulance will also have duress system activation accessible from anywhere in the vehicle or by the paramedic’s personal device, which activates 360° digital video recording, in-car voice warnings and distress texts to multiple agencies with vehicle identification and location.

Walker added that the vehicle itself becomes a safe haven for ambulance officers as it is fitted with security entry glass.

Ferno’s ACETECH cloud-based vehicle intelligence system will also provide fleet managers with a stream of real-time data about the ambulance’s operations, deployment, driving behaviour, fuel costs, systems status and maintenance schedule.

Joe Bourgraf, Ferno president and CEO, said Ferno’s Integrated Patient Transport System was the result of five years of research and development and worldwide consultation with medical practitioners, first responders and ambulance services.

“The Smart Ambulance is at the cutting edge globally of onboard vehicle intelligence, patient care and safety standards for paramedics and communication,” said Bourgraf.

“It provides a highly flexible and modular system that can fit any vehicle type and size and can meet many different operating environments, such as accident scenes, fires and other emergencies.”

Representatives of ambulance services from across Australia and New Zealand, Canada, the UK, the United Arab Emirates, Ireland and Vietnam attended the Smart Ambulance demonstration at Byron’s Sydney plant.

Image courtesy of Byron Group.