When talking about improving emergency medical services (EMS), most people think of simply purchasing more hardware. For instance, they may think of simply buying a better-equipped ambulance or the newest gear for their paramedics. However, what a lot of people don’t realize is that setting up a wireless broadband network—and the internet access that comes with it—can benefit these frontliners greatly. That’s even without completely replacing all existing equipment.

Here are three main ways where a wireless broadband system can help improve the quality of your Emergency Medical Services (EMS), both on the field and off it:

On the Field

The most obvious way how wireless broadband technologies can improve EMS is by making communication between first responders and the home base more seamless. Gone are the days when EMS personnel have to find cellular signal in remote areas just to stay connected, especially in times of disaster. This also allows emergency responders to send important data like images and videos back to their home base—that’s something shortwave radio cannot do.

Wireless broadband also helps in the deployment of telemedicine, where first responders on the field can easily get in touch with a physician based at a major hospital. Through telemedicine, the physician can already offer a diagnosis via a video call, ensuring that the patient gets ample care even before their arrival at the hospital. Telemedicine also allows frontliners in rural areas to access specialists based in urban regions, eliminating the need to transfer patients from one facility to another, except for the most severe cases.

Data Gathering and Analysis

The usefulness of wireless broadband technologies in emergency services doesn’t end at the site of the emergency itself. In fact, by connecting organizations in different parts of the state or country through one network, they can easily gather data that can be used to improve their own EMS.

One top example is the use of the Prehospital Medical Information System (PreMIS) in Mississippi, North and South Carolina, plus West Virginia. This internet-based system automatically collects data from each EMS call received in these states. The data is then used by hospitals and EMS administrators to evaluate the quality of patient care, allowing them to make recommendations for improvement.

Another example would be the use of the Internet of Things to gather medical data quickly and easily. This means connecting various medical equipment to a broadband network, allowing them to send data to a cloud server for future analysis.

Remote Training and Further Education

A wireless broadband system also helps emergency responders broaden their skills and provide better care. For example, there are many educational resources for EMS personnel available on the internet. These range from free reading material on updated emergency response protocols to entire online classes that can be recognized for their CE credits.

As you can see, the setup of a wireless broadband network can benefit emergency responders greatly, especially those who are operating in more rural areas. While setting up this kind of network may require a hefty initial expense, it can still be more affordable than wired networks, which setting up wires or cables on posts or via trenches underground. It’s also definitely a worthy investment, especially if it allows you to save more lives in the future.