SPOKANE, Wash. — Distance and isolation no longer need to be barriers when it comes to giving rural Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers the most up-do-date training and educational opportunities. EMS Live@Nite! is a program that utilizes Telemedicine, an interactive video conferencing system, much like the one used to connect business executives with staff and board members across the globe. But this technology is utilized to deliver the latest in emergency response, injury prevention, safety awareness and other topics essential to the first responders who provide emergency medical assistance.
According to a recent study conducted by the American Hospital Association, Telemedicine is among the most widely adopted uses of information technology by hospitals, both rural and urban. The system is designed to allow remote health care facilities to consult with physicians and medical personnel at other hospitals through the use of high-resolution cameras, digital imaging equipment and high-speed connectivity.
It is through this technology that Northwest Telehealth, a division of Inland Northwest Health Services in Spokane, WA is able to offer the monthly Live@Nite courses to EMS providers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. First responders, police, fire and medical personnel will have a real-time link, allowing them access not only to instructors, but also their peers throughout the region. In Western Washington, the courses are currently available to hospitals in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason and Pacific Counties, though other sites may be offered, depending on local interest. Upcoming subjects will include burn care, diabetic emergencies, agitated patients and helicopter procedures. For a complete list of courses and available continuing education credits, along with more information about the program and how to bring it to your area, contact Renee Anderson, Inland Northwest Health Services, at (888) 258-9632 or e-mail andersr@inhs.org.
Inland Northwest Health Services is a non-profit corporation sponsored by Deaconess Medical Center, Holy Family Hospital, Sacred Heart Medical Center and Valley Hospital and Medical Center in Spokane, WA to provide collaborative health care services for Spokane and the surrounding region. Its companies include St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute, Community Health Education and Resources (CHER), Children’s Miracle Network, Northwest Telehealth, Information Resource Management and Northwest MedStar. For more information, visit www.inhs.org.