Telemedicine Revolutionizes Rural Emergency Care with Funding from DHHS

Nebraska DHHS has launched a new program aimed at equipping small-town ambulances with life-saving telemedicine technology. Funded by a $1.3 million initiative from the Centers for Disease Control Health Disparities grant, the program provides rural emergency crews with an extra set of eyes and ears to help treat patients when the nearest hospital is miles away.

One of the 20 rural EMS crews benefiting from this program is Friend Rescue, which serves a coverage area of approximately 100 square miles with just 11 volunteers. Rescue captain Kelly Paulsen shared how telemedicine technology not only assists her crew but also benefits the patients they care for. The technology enables better documentation and multitasking while treating patients, especially when there is only one EMT in the ambulance working on a patient.

The pilot program, in partnership with Avel eCare based in Sioux City, South Dakota, virtually connects EMS crews to physicians, paramedics, and registered nurses. Tim Wilson, the state’s director of the Office of Emergency Health Systems for DHHS, explained that the goal is to provide rural EMS crews with the same resources available in hospital emergency rooms, ensuring access to consultations with higher levels of care.

The program aims to assist EMS crews, improve patient outcomes, and help with retention and recruitment of staff. Friend Rescue highlighted how their local hospital, Warren Memorial, also utilizes the same telemedicine technology in their ER, allowing for continuity of care with just the press of a button. Wilson expressed hope for securing funding to extend the pilot program for another year and expand telemedicine services to more rural EMS ambulances across the state.

With telemedicine technology at their disposal, small-town ambulances can now provide life-saving care to patients who need it most. The new program spearheaded by Nebraska DHHS has already proven beneficial for Friend Rescue and other rural EMS crews across Nebraska. As Wilson continues his efforts to expand telemedicine services throughout the state, he hopes that more lives will be saved through this innovative technology.