SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Two hospitals in Springfield are implementing software upgrades after a woman with congestive heart failure waited 37 minutes for an ambulance in December.
The health system upgrades at CoxHealth and Mercy will allow dispatchers to visually compare ambulances that are available, the Springfield News-Leader reports.
In December, an ambulance was two miles away when Malinda Baker’s son called 911 at 6:18 p.m., but it wasn’t dispatched because it was a part of Mercy hospital, and the area is traditionally served by Cox. However, the two services often help each other out.
An ambulance arrived to Baker’s home at 6:55 p.m.
“We have had software that allows the dispatchers to see available ambulances for a number of years,” said CoxHealth Spokeswoman Michelle Leroux said. “We are adding a few enhancements that allow for the visual comparison of resources, which makes decision processes easier.”