The Bloomington Fire Department is making strides in emergency medical services by incorporating cutting-edge telemedicine technology into its Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program. The initiative, supported by a grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, has allowed the department to equip its MIH program with advanced telemedicine kits from Tech4Life.
These kits, which are the first of their kind to be utilized by an MIH program in the United States, are designed to deliver a live medical assessment to providers, including real-time vital signs, ECG readings, and oxygen saturation levels. The MIH team, once equipped with this technology, will be able to provide enhanced medical evaluations during virtual consultations. According to a recent statement from Shelby VanDerMoere, MIH Program Manager, obtained by Bloomington's official news, "These kits will help our team members provide even better medical assessments for our patients by providing real time data."
The Bloomington Fire Department's innovative approach was made possible through the collaboration with Tech4Life, a company committed to improving healthcare accessibility. Ruhab Ilyas, Tech4Life's company representative, alongside the kits' inventor, Dr. Shariq Khoja, provided on-site training to the MIH personnel, ensuring that they were well-versed in operating the telemedicine equipment. "Tech4Life is honored to partner with the Bloomington Fire Department and its MIH program in bringing our Sojro Ambulance Telemedicine Kits to the community," said Ilyas about the partnership, as per City of Bloomington
Before the new kits are used in the field, MIH team members will receive thorough training to ensure they are proficient. MIH Team Trainer and Grant Writer Trisha Rademachir has organized extra training sessions. Afterward, approval from the BFD's Medical Director, Dr. Corinna Repetto, is needed to oversee the program with the new technology. Once these steps are completed, the department expects improved speed in diagnosing and making decisions for patients, marking a major advancement in emergency care for the Bloomington community.
