San Antonio 9-1-1 dispatchers are using 9-1-1 video calls to help cut down on unnecessary ambulance runs.
According to WOAI-TV, the new system works like this: Callers who don't appear to be in a life-threatening situation are transferred to a special clinical dispatcher. That dispatcher then sends the patient a link for a smart phone app called Good Sam, and both sides are able to talk via a video connection.
Along with the allowing the dispatcher to observe the patient's appearance and condition, the app also provides vital medical information.
“It's able to check your respiration, your O2 saturation and your pulse, so that gives us a small view of what we're looking at with you,” San Antonio paramedic and clinical dispatcher Art Salazar told WOAI.
If the patient needs to get to the hospital, the dispatcher will then send an ambulance. But if the situation doesn't need immediate attention, the dispatcher can send a virtual taxi voucher for the patient to get to the hospital at a later time.
"It keeps (ambulances) free for cardiac arrest, chest pain, shootings, for the actual life-threatening calls," Fire Lt. Rex Pantoja told WOAI.
So far, the new system has eliminated an average of 13 ambulance runs daily. The department also used the app around 40 times a day during February's intense winter storm in order to help callers experiencing water and electricity issues.
San Antonio is the first U.S. department to use this system and the Good Sam app. Eventually, officials hope to use it to allow dispatchers to walk callers through performing CPR or take photos of fire scenes before firefighters arrive.
