VISAKHAPATNAM: Apollo Hospitals have launched five ‘ICU on Wheels’ ambulances, the first of their kind in the state, on Friday. The GPS-enabled (Geopositioning system) was flagged off by ACP (traffic) Prabhakar.
People can call the ambulance by dialing 1066. High-end medical equipment including provision for ventilator, defibrillator and spine boards are provided in the ambulance to serve critically ill patients..
The ambulances are placed in different parts of the city and during any medical emergency, the ambulance nearest to the patient’s location will be alerted by the control room in the hospital and using the GPS system that ambulance will reach the patient. Depending on the type of emergency, the patient will be shifted to either of the Apollo Hospitals located at Arilova and Ramnagar.
“Most of the trauma deaths occur while the patient is en route to the hospital and thus timely intervention is required. An ambulance in the nearest location during the ‘golden hour’, with all the required facilities would be a life-saver. The transit time can be utilised for the emergency treatment inside the ambulance,” said Dr Ranjith Kumar, specialist in emergency medicine at Apollo Hospital.
“The launch of International standard Trauma care services would help providing fast services under one roof for cases of cardiac attacks, brain strokes, head injuries, poisoning and accidents,” said, Sandeep C, regional CEO, Apollo Hospitals.
“An awareness program on the ambulances will be organised for policemen by the Apollo hospitals later this month,” the CEO added.
To clear any traffic obstruction for the ambulance to commute faster, a green channel concept for emergency vehicles will be launched shortly,” said the ACP.