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Combining existing telemedicine technology with SWAT medics is proving effective for Florida police
Tactical Telemedicine Offers Edge for Saving Lives
This story originally appeared on Officer.com partner site EMSWorld.com
Telemedicine isn't new, though it has not yet achieved widespread adoption.
One area it could begin gaining traction, however, is in the tactical realm. Tactical telemedicine takes an existing telemedicine framework and puts it in the hands of military personnel or SWAT team medics, who often find themselves on the ground in high-risk settings without immediate medical support.
The military has been exploring real-time, electronic point-of-treatment care for the battlefield, but it's still largely in the testing phase.
One place the technology will soon be deployed is Palm Bay, FL. There the Palm Bay Police Department and the Trauma Center at Health First/Holmes Regional Medical Center partnered to create the Tactical Telemedicine Program, or Tac-Tel. The partnership also includes firefighter-paramedics who train alongside Palm Bay SWAT officers.
Tac-Tel provides physicians at the trauma center with a direct link to a scene via a smartphone or tablet and a tiny camera affixed to a SWAT medic. The connection...