NEWS

Tropos Wi-Fi Network Enables Implementation of ER-Link in Tucson

TMCnet
September 19, 2007
By Anuradha Shukla

Tropos Networks’ 230 square-mile Wi-Fi network in Tucson has enabled the successful implementation of ER-Link, the nation's first operational video-based Emergency Medical Services (EMS) telemedicine system. The same Tropos MetroMesh network infrastructure is also being leveraged for traffic signal management, which has reduced Tucson’s telecommunication costs by $200,000 a year.

Through ER-Link, doctors at Tucson's University Medical Center can use video and vital information telemetry to gain a sense of the severity of a patient's condition. This is achieved by viewing and in some cases speaking to patients in real time from Tucson Fire Department ambulances en route to the hospital. All of the Department's 17 ambulances have been equipped with the ER-Link system.

Tucson assistant fire chief Dave Ridings explained that with ER-Link in their department's ambulances, their medics can use the camera to zoom in on an injury, for example, so a doctor can view it. Additionally, they can also transmit vital signs. An exterior camera provides trauma surgeons with real-time images of an accident scene.

“At our trauma center, there are three levels of injury severity - red, white and green - each requiring a different physician team to be present when an injured person arrives. We don't want to call the entire Trauma Service if it's not medically necessary. Seeing the trauma patient en route via ER-Link allows the telemetry intermediary nurse to decide which level of trauma response is needed, whether it's the whole trauma team, one member of the team and/or one or more emergency physicians,” explains Doctor Terence Valenzuela, Emergency Physician, University Medical Center, and Medical Director of the Tucson Fire Department.

Impressed by the success of this initial implementation, the University Medical Center plans to expand ER-Link's use to other problems. In order to optimize traffic settings for various days and times, the city is also using the Tropos MetroMesh Wi-Fi network to transmit traffic signal data and images, gather real-time information on where lights are red, yellow or green and where pedestrians are concentrated.

Tropos Networks points out that by owning the network infrastructure, Tucson is saving approximately $200,000 in telecommunication fees. Francisco Leyva, project manager, Tucson Transportation Department said in a statement that prior to installing the Tropos network, they used phone lines to monitor and transmit traffic information, which was extremely expensive and didn't allow for video transmission because it was too slow.

Thanks to the Tropos Wi-Fi network, they can transmit video data, and their field technicians can access files and email from their cars so they don't have to drive all over the city to different signals - they can log in from wherever they are.

“The city is evaluating several additional applications to leverage the existing Tropos network. The Police Department is testing it for field officers' use, and we're evaluating an Intelligent Transportation System, including signs that display real-time messages to drivers about detours, optional routes and road closures. The Fire Department is also looking at streaming video from ambulances to a mobile command post, as well as using the network to track firefighters while they're inside buildings and enabling them to submit field reports,” said Leyva.

He continued: “The water department is looking at enabling mobile workers to file reports remotely and to monitor wells, enabling centralized monitoring, improved accuracy, and the ability to take a reading at any time. Building inspectors could submit paperwork from the field and download information instead of driving back to central office multiple times a day, and commuter buses may offer free Internet access.

Ron Sege, Tropos Networks’ president and CEO believes what Tucson has accomplished is a testament to how citywide Wi-Fi uniquely enables new and powerful applications that improve municipal services within a community as well as the efficiency of mobile city workers.