In Daugavpils, the Emergency Medical Service is testing a new duty format — medics are in cars rather than in buildings. This allows response times to be reduced to 30 seconds and increases efficiency. After the pilot project, waiting points are planned to be introduced in other regions, reports Vidusdaugavas televīzija.
"These waiting points are in the interests of patients, so that help is closer and faster. If there are serious traffic accidents, or sudden loss of consciousness, or cardiac arrest, every second is critically important," explained NMPD physician assistant Ksenija Krapane to LSM+.
When one team responds to a call, another arrives at the waiting point. The results after three months of testing are very good, noted the head of the NMPD support center in Daugavpils, Ieva Zvirbule: "Previously, all teams, upon receiving a call directly in the support center, would go to the car, running down from the 2nd or 3rd floor, which really increased the response time. Now our response time has significantly improved — teams accept calls and depart on average in 20–30 seconds."
The "waiting point" is located near a gas station. The location was chosen purposefully, Krapane noted: "We can go to the restroom, we can get coffee and drink it while we wait for a call."
The pilot project of waiting points is taking place in Daugavpils and Riga. It will last until December. After that, it is planned to implement such a solution in other places in Latvia.
Leave a comment