Bloomington, Indiana – Being the first MIH program in the United States to use modern telemedicine kits, the Bloomington Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) program is setting a national standard. Made possible by a grant from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS), this innovative project is transforming emergency medical treatment by enabling real-time remote assessments from healthcare providers.
Developed by Tech4Life, the recently acquired telemedicine tools are meant to offer patients a live, thorough medical evaluation, therefore guaranteeing faster and more accurate diagnosis. Advanced medical evaluation instruments included in the kits allow individuals to keep track of real-time vital signs, ECG readings, oxygen saturation levels, and other essential health data.
MIH team members can now remotely link patients with medical professionals using a safe virtual meeting platform, which allows quick medical consultations free from the necessity for hospital visits.
“These kits will help our team members provide even better medical assessments for our patients by providing real time data,” says Shelby VanDerMoere, MIH Program Manager. “Truly, this is telemedicine at the highest level currently available.”
Courtesy of City of Bloomington, Indiana
The core of this project is Tech4Life’s Sojro Ambulance Telemedicine Kits, which their designers actively participated in the application process. Along with the kit inventor, Dr. Shariq Khoja, Ruhab Ilyas, a corporate representative, visited Bloomington to provide practical instruction to several MIH team members. Their visit underlined the importance of this technology and its ability to change emergency response plans throughout the nation.
“Tech4Life is honored to partner with the Bloomington Fire Department and its MIH program in bringing our Sojro Ambulance Telemedicine Kits to the community. With a shared commitment to improving healthcare accessibility through technology and social innovation, we are excited to help bridge the gap for patients in need. Together with the Bloomington Fire Department, we will empower both healthcare providers and patients, and create more connected, healthier communities for all,” Tech4Life representatives said.
Although the telemedicine kits offer significant improvements in patient treatment, their use requires more planning. Before the kits are formally put into use, MIH team members will go through demanding training sessions under direction from MIH Team Trainer and Grant Writer Trisha Rademachir. The last phase in including this innovative technology into the everyday operations of the MIH program will be final approval from Medical Director of Bloomington Fire Department, Dr. Corinna Repetto.
Although the MIH program was previously known for its creative approach to community healthcare, its incorporation of these telemedicine kits drives it into yet to be discovered area. Vulnerable groups who might find it difficult to acquire quick healthcare services especially benefit from this technology. First responders may significantly reduce ER visits and hospital readmissions by offering real-time, high-quality assessments in the field, therefore relieving the local healthcare system of some of its load.
This project may have effects much beyond Bloomington. If successful, this model could serve as a blueprint for MIH programs nationwide, showcasing the power of telemedicine in emergency response and community healthcare. Under the direction of the Bloomington Fire Department, mobile healthcare has a more promising future than ever.
For more information on the Bloomington Fire Department’s Mobile Integrated Healthcare program and its telemedicine initiative, contact Assistant Chief (Administration) Tania Daffron at [email protected] or 812-272-2113.
