Representatives of Memorial Hospital of Carbondale recently presented three military grade “Toughbook” laptop computers to the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency, Jackson County Ambulance Service, and the City of Carbondale Emergency Management Agency as part of Emergency Medical Services Week.

Memorial Hospital of Carbondale serves as the Emergency Resource Hospital for 12 first responder agencies and eight ambulance services throughout six southern Illinois counties.

“We assist other hospitals with education, preparedness, equipment, and supplies to help respond to small and large scale disasters within our service area,” said Memorial Hospital Emergency Services Coordinator Mike Maddox.

The purchase was made possible with grant monies secured via the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network.

“Memorial Hospital recognizes that the provision of better equipment to the region’s EMS agencies will result in better emergency pre-hospital care,” said Cindy Pribble, Emergency Department Patient Care Manager.

Emergency services often perform their duties with obsolete equipment that is a barrier to effective service. Jackson County Ambulance Service Director Dottie Miles says the addition of modern equipment will help her agency incorporate a much-needed mapping program.

“Given the size and layout of the region, it is not always easy to locate the exact location of the caller in an emergency. The E-911 dispatch has the ability to map the exact location of the caller and pinpoint that location on a map. Currently those directions are given to us via radio, but at the same time, the dispatcher may be giving pre-arrival instructions to the family on treatment for the patient until the ambulance arrives,” Miles said.

“With these computers and appropriate data systems, we can receive that information on the laptop and in real time use the mapping system to locate the patient. This will hopefully decrease response times and allow faster access to care,” Miles explained.