EMERGENCY MEDICINE: full RELIABILITY in operation even under adverse conditions IN Kreis Borken - thanks to the fully robust UX10-IP TABLET FROM GETAC
/ CHALLENGE /
In Kreis Borken, about 22,000 pure rescue missions are carried out per year - a good 16,000 missions in the form of ambulance transports with paramedics and paramedic assistants, and just under 5,600 pure emergency doctor missions.
Although the number of accidents in 2020 was below average due to the pandemic, on average at least 43,000 missions are carried out per year. Data management in the district of Borken is controlled by IT specialists and currently comprises about 40 devices, six of which are kept as spares and three of which are used in the central office.
The recording of insurance cards is the first necessary step in an operation, which must be done quickly and without errors. The technology becomes lifesaving when it is necessary to transfer patient-specific data such as heart activity, oxygen saturation or blood pressure - in short, the patient's vital functions - from the ECG to the UX10-IP in real time (e.g. via Bluetooth), then process them with the appropriate software and finally document them.
The Getac devices used so far were highly appreciated by those responsible for the rescue service because of their robustness and functionality. But after more than five years of continuous use, it became necessary to replace all the old devices. The search was therefore to focus on an enhanced solution that would allow paramedics and emergency doctors to record every step of a mission reliably and quickly, as well as to enter data quickly and conveniently optionally with a pen or glove. The new tablet also had to be able to withstand knocks and bumps as well as being dropped or disinfected extremely frequently, and it had to be able to withstand both indoor and outdoor use. Getac partner Mettenmeier was again approached. A selection of rugged tablets from various manufacturers was tested, and the fully rugged tablet from Getac was convincing all along the line. Emergency paramedic André Garwer explains the repeated decision for Getac: "In general, Getac has proven that we can always rely on its service and excellent cooperation. We are especially enthusiastic about our Getac contact person, who really understands what we need."
/ SOLUTION/
The Kreis Borken decided to replace its older Getac RX10 series devices with modern UX10-IP (Infection Prevention) tablets with a large, powerful battery that also offer secure real-time communication using special SIM cards: from the ambulance to the doctor - who is often not on site - in just a few minutes. In the ambulance (RTW), Havis docking stations ensure continuous operation, as the UX10-IP is permanently charged when docked there. When calls are transmitted to the ambulance via the control centre, the response team receives all recorded information and patient data directly on their UX10-IP devices. Starting with emergency care at the scene, paramedics can then immediately start with the intended documentation - as the important data is already available. Whether the UX10-IP is used indoors or outdoors: Getac's fully rugged tablet is suitable for all emergency medical operations, regardless of the environment.
It is easy to use with gloves or a pen and can be cleaned and disinfected quickly. In Borken, great attention is paid to infection prevention: The devices pass through many hands every day, and constant patient contact - especially in times of a pandemic - makes continuous disinfection and wiping indispensable.
In addition, the user-friendly rubberised handle on the housing of the UX10-IP simplifies transport.
The long battery life guarantees stable, reliable operation over long periods of time, even when the units are heavily used. The emergency personnel of the various rescue stations in the district agree: "The device is incredibly practical, the batteries last longer than a day, it runs even faster and smoother than previous devices and is therefore ideal for our purposes. Every time we go out on a call, we notice that the UX10-IP is even more powerful and allows faster data transfers for our emergency services.
Like its predecessor, it is equipped with the latest smartcard reader version for reading out the insured person's data, but also with a powerful Bluetooth interface that ensures wireless communication with peripheral devices such as the ECG. Using the latest LTE interfaces, all patient parameters can also be transmitted to the control centres and corresponding treatment providers.
/ ADVANTAGES /
The fully rugged UX10-IP tablet impresses not only with its speed and resistant construction, which enables reliable work even after drops or strong impacts, but also with the performance of its batteries, which can be constantly charged via Havis docking stations. UX10-IP and Havis docking station are part of GETAC Select® and play perfectly together. While many rugged solutions require a time-consuming and costly search for suitable accessories from various suppliers in addition to the device, Getac customers can obtain everything from a single source via the Getac Select programme. During emergency medical operations or classic patient transport, those involved can rely on their technical device and thus concentrate on their most important focus - the patient; they know their technical device will work in a coordinated, reliable, and unrestricted manner. Thanks to powerful processors, documentation runs efficiently and smoothly - from the reading in of insurance cards to the checking of protocols by medical professionals.
Compared to Getac's previous fully rugged tablet, the modern UX10-IP allows even smoother and more efficient rescue operations that can be documented in real time. The processing is fully automated by means of special software and can be used immediately in the accounting programme. Each mission begins with the transmission of the control centre data to the vehicle; in parallel, the doctor - who is often not on site - receives an automated mission email and can thus check and monitor all processes of the mission from a distance, which ensures high medical quality. An important tool here is the integrated camera of the robust UX10-IP tablet. Patients' medication plans can be photographed and compared with those of the doctor: Are there contraindications to certain medications? Or is the patient perhaps not tolerating one preparation because he is already taking another? Questions like these can now be clarified much more easily by the doctor thanks to the camera and real-time communication, and important information about the administration of medication and treatment can be passed on to the emergency services on the spot.
The Kreis Borken, as the rescue service provider of 11 rescue stations, has fulfilled its responsibility in a promising way by using the fully robust Getac UX10-IP tablet. The emergency medical staff is now technically optimally equipped for patient care and can more than fulfil all the prescribed documentation for patient transport and rescue operations. At the same time, a new course is being set for the digital future of rescue services. This is particularly confirmed by the district's IT experts, who scrutinised the fully robust UX10-IP tablet alongside other competitive devices in terms of processor speed, performance, resolution, etc. before deciding to buy. The experts were clearly in favour of the UX10-IP. The mobile rescue teams also confirm: "The Getac devices are really exceptionally robust. "André Garwer says: "I actually left one of the devices on the bonnet in a hurry and drove off; but the robust tablet actually withstood it.”
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