EMS has finally entered the information age. Increasingly, physiologic and patient information is collected by electronic devices in the field and communicated to a distant location. This is Telemedicine! Once the information is transmitted, it is used to direct field activities, assist in later decision making, archived as part of the medical record, and oftentimes sent to a distant highly specialized care provider.

In the ideal world everything works. Unfortunately, the EMS real world includes a mix of different acquisition devices, information formats, communications means and presentation and archiving systems. So, with all these differences how do we get everything to work together?

Part of the answer lies in "data translation", the process by which information is converted from one format to another. The common ECG modulator is an example of a simple data translator … it takes a monitor's analog ECG and converts it into the FM format needed for transmission over common carriers. The General Devices' Rosetta-Lt™ is a next-generation data translator, which, in addition to all regular modulator functions, has the ability to take the digital information from a device such as the LIFEPAK® 12 and format it so that it may be sent over conventional analog communication means such as UHF radio. At the receive side, Rosetta-Rx™ converts the information back to a digital format and provides a printout similar to the original LIFEPAK® 12's, with a 12-Lead ECG and physiologic and patient data.

The next part relates to access and connectivity. Field personnel must be able to freely communicate with distant care providers and exchange information within an information system, regardless of what communications means are being used. The General Devices' GEMS Series 2000™ ER Communications Console provides for managing various communications means and the new NetManager™ goes one step further, permitting the field medics to mix communications mediums (i.e.: 2-way radio, cellular and landline) and "steer" their communication paths within, or even outside, the system … quickly, easily and without additional personnel. For example, a medic using a 2-way radio may wish to patch directly to a particular hospital or speak with a physician accessible only by cellphone. NetManager™ provides this capability, all under the control of the medic's touch-tone keypad!

The last key to better communications lies at the information's receiving end, where what is done depends largely on what is needed. Is it just a strip or the full report … and then what should and what should not be archived. The GEMS™ console provides for the presentation of ECGs and, when equipped with the Rosetta-Rx™ option, the LIFEPAK® 12's 12-Lead report can be printed with a common laser printer. This information is in a form suitable for sending it anywhere within the care providers network, but where it will ultimately go will await the needs of the future.