Expanding a Life-Saving Technology

The staff at the Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System (BREMSS) has successfully expanded the LifeTrac system (formerly TraumaNet) and is routing stroke victims as well as trauma victims. 

"The principles behind the system fit the needs of stroke victims like a glove," said Joe Acker, BREMSS director. LifeTrac is a real-time patient routing system that helps emergency medical crews get stroke and seriously injured trauma victims to the most appropriate medical care as quickly as possible.

The system was custom-developed by Forté Incorporated. "The few minutes that LifeTrac can save might mean the difference in the patient being able to speak, walk or have complete use of their hands."

"The few minutes that LifeTrac can save might mean the difference in the patient being able to speak, walk or have complete use of their hands."

There are a number of drugs now available that can minimize the damage a stroke inflicts on the brain and dramatically improve the patient's overall outcome - if they are administered within a short period of time.  

Further customizing LifeTrac to help route stroke victims is a clear next step in improved emergency care. According to the American Stroke Association 600,000 people will suffer a stroke this year. Stroke is responsible for about 1 out of every 15 deaths in the United States. making it the third leading cause of death. As many as 30 percent of all stroke victims are permanently disabled. 

"The few minutes that LifeTrac can save might mean the difference in the patient being able to speak, walk or have complete use of their hands," Acker said. 

"The greater the geographic area, the more the need for this system," said John Huddleston, Forté senior consultant.

 

The LifeTrac system has been in place in the Birmingham metro area since October 1996 and is available to other medical systems through Forté's sister company, LifeTrac Technologies.