南达科他州卫生部拨款136万美元：Avel eCare急救远程医疗扩至全州乡村
总部位于苏福尔斯的虚拟医疗机构Avel eCare于10月22日宣布，获得南达科他州卫生部乡村医疗转型计划136万983美元拨款，用于在全州推广"Telemedicine in Motion"急救远程医疗项目。这笔经费将用于第二代远程医疗技术的硬件与技术升级、年度许可与网络连接、保修以及参与急救单位的实施安装，最终范围、预算与交付时间仍待正式协议签署。
该项目让乡村救护车团队在现场救治和转运途中，通过双向音视频实时连线经验丰富的急诊医生、护士和护理人员，相当于把急诊室"搬上"救护车。官方数据显示，项目迄今已完成近2500次接诊，中位时长22分钟，患者中位年龄60岁，覆盖全州乡村、偏远和边疆地区。虚拟急救医生可协助实时病历记录、心电图复核、护理协调、直升机调度，并决定最合适的转运目的地。
Mobridge救护车主任、注册护理人员Stephanie Dame表示，三方通话让急诊室能提前为送达的病人做好准备，"对提升病人救治效果帮助很大"。Avel eCare急救与EMS服务副总裁Becky VandeKieft说，乡村急救人员常常"在救护车后舱感到孤单"，虚拟连线能提供"第二双眼睛和第二意见"。该拨款由联邦医疗保险和医疗补助服务中心（CMS）乡村医疗转型计划全额资助。
South Dakota Department of Health Awards $1.36 Million: Avel eCare Emergency Telemedicine Expands to Rural Areas Statewide
Sioux Falls-based virtual care provider Avel eCare announced on October 22 that it has received a $1,360,983 grant from the South Dakota Department of Health's Rural Health Transformation Program to expand its 'Telemedicine in Motion' emergency telemedicine program statewide. The funds will support hardware and technology upgrades for second-generation telemedicine technology, annual licensing and network connectivity, warranties and implementation and installation at participating emergency units; the final scope, budget and delivery timeline await a formal agreement.
The program lets rural ambulance crews, at the scene and en route, connect in real time by two-way audio and video with experienced emergency physicians, nurses and care providers — effectively moving the emergency room 'onto' the ambulance. Official data show the program has completed nearly 2,500 encounters to date, with a median duration of 22 minutes and a median patient age of 60, covering rural, remote and frontier areas statewide. Virtual emergency physicians can assist with real-time documentation, ECG review, care coordination and helicopter dispatch, and help decide the most appropriate transport destination.
Stephanie Dame, Mobridge ambulance director and registered nurse, said the three-way calls let the emergency room prepare in advance for incoming patients, 'which helps a lot in improving patient outcomes.' Becky VandeKieft, Avel eCare's vice president of emergency and EMS services, said rural responders often feel 'alone in the back of the ambulance,' and the virtual connection provides 'a second set of eyes and a second opinion.' The grant is funded entirely by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Rural Health Transformation Program.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：苏福尔斯 Falls Park 瀑布与市区 / Falls Park and downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota — Maxpower2727, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
