California ambulances connected to HIE speed care

California ambulance services now can connect to the state’s health information exchange, called Manifest MedEx, thanks to a $4.9 million grant from the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.

Six local EMS agencies, 13 other EMS providers and 16 hospitals will cover eight counties—representing 7.6 million residents—will be participating in the project.

Connecting the ambulances will support real-time notification to hospitals of incoming patients along with transfer of patient data from EMS personnel to the hospital inroute.

“Ambulance service is an incredibly critical point for patient communication,” says Erica Galvez, chief strategy officer at Manifest MedEx. “On transport, patients may be unconscious and unable to communicate their serious allergies and medical history details. On arrival at the emergency department, providers need access to details from paramedics to act safety and quickly.”

Read full article published in Health Data Management.