RE: wireless all vital signs to a ground physician to monitor the condition of the patient

["Paul M. Wright, Jr." <pmwright@home.com>]

I think this thread probably started out as a test balloon to see how much
interest there would be in a new generation of commercial telemetry product.
I feel almost Luddite in saying this, but I would hope there would be little
interest in the air medical community for such a device if the intent was to
reduce the need for qualified personnel in direct contact with the patient.
I would be willing to consider such a device for storage of real-time
physiologic data for documentation or training purposes or perhaps for
consultative purposes but not for remote decision making.

As I sit here thinking back over the most difficult transports in which I've
been involved, I can't think of even one where a telemetry capability beyond
that of ECG would have been helpful.  There have, of course, also been those
transports where I could have been replaced by a Barry Manilow CD to keep an
otherwise well patient entertained...

But then I also think back about all the times that my technology lied to me
and I become even more opposed to the extension of remote clinical
monitoring in the transport environment, particularly if used to justify a
lessened investment in training and retention of quality personnel.  It
seems to be a solution in search of a problem.

But batten down the hatches - this week in one of the Information Technology
trade magazines, there was an article about a "fully automated hospital"
(whatever that means...) being built.

regards!

paul

Paul M. Wright, Jr.
Mesa, AZ