GPS to improve ambulance response

Ambulance response times should get shorter now that a new global-positioning system has been put in place, making it easier for emergency dispatchers to get the closest ambulance to a medical emergency.

After a year of planning and intensive testing, the automatic vehicle-location system is operating in Metro EMS. Now, dispatchers at MetroSafe Communications can see, in real time, the location of every paramedic or emergency medical technician.

The system uses GPS technology that has been placed in every ambulance and paramedic fly-car to figure out what available unit is closest to a medical call being phoned in to the 911 center.

"We're trying to make things faster," said Dr. Neal Richmond, head of Metro EMS. "But not just get there fast, but get there smart."

With the help of the GPS locators, the computer can recommend which unit is closest and available.

Previously, medical personnel had to call in their ambulance locations. But that only provided a best estimate of where an ambulance might be at any time, leaving dispatchers to make an educated guess about where the closest ambulance to a call might be.

This system eliminates the guesswork, Richmond said.

Because of the GPS, dispatchers can now see icons on their computer screens that show the locations of the ambulance or fly-cars within 10 feet of the actual location. They can see if they are traveling on an interstate or stationed at their prescribed headquarters.

The computer automatically updates the locations every six seconds.
Because of that accuracy, that could shave seconds, or even minutes, off of response time, official say.

City officials invested $435,000 in the system, which was paid for in a capital allocation to EMS.

Richmond said that is about the cost of what the city would pay to put another ambulance in the system, but by spending the money this way, response times improve across the board.

Louisville is the first community in the commonwealth, and among the first large systems in the country, to start using this system.


Reporter Jessie Halladay can be reached at (502) 582-4081.


By Jessie Halladay • jhalladay@courier-journal.com • June 4, 2009

Ambulans PMI Kapan yah dilengkapi GPS biar pelayanan makin tepat waktu dan efisien dalam penggunaan BBM