For information contact (Birmingham):
Jeff Waid, Director of Communications and Quality Improvement
Phone: 205-506-7538 Cell
Email: jeff.waid@lifeguardambulance.com

For information contact (Local/Mobile):
Mona Ladnier, Operations Manager
Phone: 251-370-5020 Cell
Email:  mona.ladnier@lgts.net

LIFEGUARD AMBULANCE TAKES PRE-HOSPITAL CARE DOCUMENTATION FROM PAPER TO HIGH-TECH

New technology enables medical teams to record transport events in real-time, transfer the data over the Internet and access medical protocols as patient care is underway.

Fewer than 7 percent of nation’s ambulance providers currently online

MOBILE, Ala. (December 20, 2010) — Lifeguard Ambulance Service began utilizing state of the art technology to enhance patient care on Dec. 13. The Electronic Patient Care Reporting, or ePCR, made its debut in a model program at Lifeguard’s Mobile, Ala. operation. Lifeguard is one of only 400 of the nation’s approximately 6000 ambulance providers currently on line with the new technology.

The ePCR documentation system, developed by Sansio Health EMS, is considered by medical transport industry experts to be on the cutting edge for pre-hospital care documentation software and programming. The ePCR system provides ambulance medical teams immediate access to state-approved medical protocols via laptop computer, lending guidance for treatment and allowing for more accurate documentation of the patient care process.

“The industry norm—written paper reporting completed once a transport ended—has become outdated,” said Mona Ladnier, Lifeguard Ambulance Service operations manager for Mobile. “The new laptop system allows the paramedic and EMT to record the transport’s events in real time as patient care is happening, enabling them to capture data more accurately.”

Jeff Waid, Lifeguard Ambulance corporate director of communications said the new laptop system also will help to improve service times. “The partnership Lifeguard has forged with Sansio will reduce the amount of time medical crews must use to document patient care, thereby making the ambulance units available faster to meet the area’s growing EMS needs.”

ABOUT LIFEGUARD
With corporate headquarters in Pensacola, Fla., Lifeguard Ambulance Service is a dedicated medical transport company, providing EMS services to nine communities in Ala., Fla., Tenn. and Ga. For more information on the transport services Lifeguard provides go to www.LifeguardAmbulance.com.

ABOUT SANSIO
Sansio is a SaaS (Software as a Service) organization that offers cutting edge Web-based decision support solutions for the health care industry. Sansio’s software solutions provide organizations with electronic data capture at the point-of-service and powerful business intelligence automation for the back-office. Health care organizations in America capture more than 7 million patient encounters annually, delivering services valued at over $1B, using Sansio’s health care software solutions. For more information, visit www.sansio.com.