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Avon and Springfield Ambulance EMTs met in Avon for a training on the implementation phase of the program to ensure they have the skills and workflows needed to fully benefit from Avel eCare EMS new 'Telemedicine in Motion' platform in their ambulances as they are committed to providing the best possible emergencymedicalservicesto the local area. As part of this ongoingeffort,theyareexcited to announce that they have partnered with the State of SouthDakotaandAveleCareto deploy the new “Telemedicine in Motion” platform in their ambulances.Now,theteamcan useiPadstocallonAveleCare’s clinicians 24/7 for help and consultationwhiletreatingpatients in transit. The best part? The platform’s technology will help ensure that virtually no calls are dropped!

Avel eCare is a telemedicine provider based out of Sioux Falls. Its team of expert physicians, nursesandcliniciansare all trained in telemedicine and deliver services to support local care teams and caregivers.

Many on the Avel team also have experience with bedside patientcare.Theybelieveevery person and every community deserves access to healthcare, and they have been delivering high quality telemedicine services since 1993.

The Telemedicine in Motion initiative provides 24/7 access to a team board-certified emergency physicians and experienced nurses to render emergency care and peer topeer support for EMS agencies in the State of South Dakota.

Avel eCare’s goal as the service provider is to, given the geographic and connectivity challenges, deliver the highest quality care possible whileensuringafantasticuser experience.

Agencies enrolled will have their ambulances equipped with a cabin-mounted telehealth tablet, microphones, speakers, antennas, and cellular boosters to support strong connectivity in the field. This package of technology is well suited to work in noisy, rural environments and has been designed to augment the services and actions of EMS professionals.

When responding to a call, the EMS crew can call Avel eCare Emergency and, within moments, the board-certified ERphysicianandteamofnurses will show up on the screen to assist.

The Avel team has been prepped on the capacity of the responding EMS crew, their designationasaBasicLifeSupport or Advance Life Support ambulance, and have a solid understanding of the rig and its layout.

Avel's Emergency medicine experts can help with a variety of actions and procedures, ranging from airway management and trauma care, to ECG interpretation and medication decisions, as appropriate.

The Avel team can also call the receiving hospital to alert themthatapatientwillbesoon arriving.

The program is funded through a combination of federal AmericanRescuePlanAct (ARPA) and state general fund dollars.Theinitialtotalforthis project is $1.7 million. State general funds will maintain annual service agreements contractually – no changes here. The one-time ARPA dollars will be used for the purchase of hardware, software, and installation.

Your EMS agency may be responsible for the cost of additional hardware beyond the first set provided by the State. In order to minimize dropped calls, the Avel Virtual EMS technologypackageisequipped with a robust connectivity solution which allows EMS Agencies to roam throughout theirserviceareasbetweencell towers and carriers. However, even though the system uses an advanced router that cycles between the major carriers to find the strongest signal, this technology has it’s limitations. Cell towers do not cover the state’s entire footprint, and there will be times when calls drop.Whenthisdoesoccur,the Avel team will be prepared to reinitializethevideoencounter as soon as possible.

The goal with this project is to ensure that EMS crews are no longer alone. On request, Avel's telemedicine team will use video capability to assess the situation, augment the EMS crew’s efforts, or answer questions as EMTs or Medics provide treatment.

TheTelemedicineinMotion: EMS initiative will ensure pre-hospital professionals can access Avel for a second opinion, helping relieve some of the burden on the EMS crews and sustain the future of emergency medical services in South Dakota.

During a live video encounter, the EMS team can see the Avel clinicians on the screen and hear them through the speakers. If EMS crews see a blank iPad or only see themselves on the screen, Avel is not live and cannot see or hear EMS.

EMS crews activate the service by placing a landline call to Avel eCare’s emergency hub usingthededicatedEMSphone number.OnceAvelreceivesthe request, Avel will call the iPad to activate video the video connection with the ambulance. The unit will not be turned on unless a member of the team calls to activate the service. Once the iPad is turned on, it will establish a real-time, live feedbetweentheEMTsandthe Avel eCare team.