PROMPT Ambulance Deploys In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that PROMPT Ambulance has chosen the onBoard Mobile Gateway to improve fleet tracking and communications, cut response times and lower costs.

"The Gateway is the communications hub of our ambulances," said Joe Merry, PROMPT’s Director of Operations and Communications. "It has vastly improved communications and coordination between our crews, dispatchers, municipalities and local hospitals."

PROMPT is the largest private ambulance service in Northwest Indiana, providing advanced and basic life support transportation to residents of the towns of Griffith, Highland, Munster, Merrillville and Dyer. PROMPT’s roots in the region date back to the 1880s and the great grandfather of the current owners. Today, the company has more than 500 employees and makes more than 150,000 emergency calls and wheelchair requests.

The Gateway turns each PROMPT ambulance into a mobile hotspot, providing reliable, secure connectivity to a variety of onboard systems and devices, including laptops, tablets, PDAs, and vehicle monitoring and dispatch systems. Because devices share a single, high-bandwidth network connection, the Gateway has helped PROMPT improve emergency communications, while reducing airtime costs by half.

The Gateway is equipped with the latest GPS technology, enabling dispatchers to know the precise location, direction and speed of its ambulances at all times. This allows PROMPT to dispatch the closest unit to the scene, provide highly accurate estimated arrival times, and achieve average response times of approximately 4 minutes.

The Gateway requires no user intervention -- devices power up and automatically connect -- freeing medics to focus on patient care, and not on getting technology to work. "Installation was simple, and the Gateways have been performing very well," said Merry.

"PROMPT has equipped its ambulance fleet with the latest medical and communications technology," said Tony Morris, In Motion’s VP of Sales and Marketing. "Our solutions allow data from these devices to be seamlessly and instantaneously shared with dispatchers and local hospitals, so patients in Northwest Indiana receive the fastest care and have the best possible outcomes."

Chester Co. EMS Transforms Their Fleet Into Mobile ER with the OnBoard Mobile Gateway

In Motion Technology the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Chester County EMS has deployed the onBoard Mobile Gateway to send critical patient information to the hospital before the ambulance arrives, expediting care and improving outcomes.

“In healthcare, it’s all about timely sharing of information,” said Craig A. Walker, CEO of Chester Regional Medical Center. “With In Motion Technology, ER physicians can diagnose and begin treatment before the patient arrives at the hospital. In a rural county like ours where patients must be transported long distances, this technology is helping save lives.”

In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway turns each Chester County ambulance into a mobile hotspot that provides reliable, secure connectivity for defibrillators, laptops and other on board devices. Chester Regional Medical Center ER staff can remotely monitor patient information so they can assist medics with treatment, prepare for the patient’s arrival, or redirect the ambulance to another hospital.

The GPS-equipped Gateway continuously sends location, engine operations and performance information to the county command center, helping the agency track vehicles, prevent breakdowns and reduce response times.

In Motion’s solution was designed to work without user intervention. The Gateway supports industry- leading defibrillators. Devices power up and connect automatically, so medics can focus on patients, while vital information flows seamlessly to the nearest hospital, operations staff, other responders, or authorized physicians anywhere.

“We tried other solutions, but we had problems with set up, configuration and security,” said Britt Lineberger, EMS Director. “Installing the Gateways in our fleet was simple, and completed ahead of schedule. The In Motion team has been excellent to work with. All around, this project has been great for our county.”

“Chester County EMS serves 34,000 residents across 600 square miles in north-central South Carolina. The agency purchased the onBoard Mobile Gateways using a grant awarded by the South Carolina Department of Health to improve trauma care.

We’re pleased to work with Chester County EMS and the Regional Medical Center to improve pre-hospital patient care,” said Tony Morris, In Motion’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “Our technology helps rural and urban communities alike share vital information in real time, overcome communications challenges and expedite care.”

In Motion Technology Integrates Garmin® Navigation Devices into Mobile Networking Platform

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced the release of onBoard Nav, a new solution that allows fleet organizations to communicate with drivers and provide voice-guided directions through inexpensive, off-the-shelf personal navigation devices.

onBoard Nav integrates Garmin personal navigation devices into In Motion’s end-to-end mobile networking solution to provide:

- Improved driver safety: voice-guided navigation enables employees to focus on driving and prevents last second direction decisions; one-press responses to multiple choice questions minimizes driver distraction; broadcast text messaging ensures safety information is not missed when drivers are outside the vehicle.

- Increased productivity and efficiency: address of next job is waiting on-screen for the driver, eliminating the need to initiate a request and subsequent discussion with dispatcher; voice-guided navigation reduces the time that a driver otherwise needs to learn the most efficient route; historical location data enables analysis of traffic areas and times which can provide substantial improvements to future deployments.

- Improved customer satisfaction: knowing driver status prevents dispatchers from attempting to dispatch a crew that is unavailable, reducing delays in responding to customers.

- Increased employee satisfaction: reduced misunderstandings between dispatcher and crews create a healthier working environment for those on the front line.

- Reduced capital costs of providing vehicle communications infrastructure: cost-effective PNDs can easily replace laptops or tablets for most fleets.

onBoard Nav’s plug-and-play installation, and cost effective messaging features set it apart from other fleet management interface solutions. Compatible Garmin devices simply plug into the onBoard Mobile Gateway, In Motion’s in-vehicle communications platform. HQ staff can push destinations and communicate with drivers using the onBoard Mobility Manager, the company’s web-based mobile network management dashboard. onBoard Nav is the latest addition to In Motion’s management suite that allows today’s fleet organizations to monitor, track and troubleshoot all assets in the field -- including vehicles devices and personnel – with precision and in real-time.

“Our solutions allow people on the road to access and share information – using any device over any network – easily, reliably and securely,” said Tony Morris, In Motion’s VP of Sales and Marketing. “Now, with onBoard Nav, organizations can improve fleet dispatching and communications without costly laptops or data terminals, and enhance the efficiency of field crews and their entire mobile operation.”

North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System Chooses In Motion Technology to Connect Ambulances City-Wide

In Motion Technology recently announced that North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System has deployed the company’s patented mobile hotspot technology to connect and manage the largest hospital-based ambulance fleet in the State of New York.

“We transport more than 60,000 patients to hospitals across the five boroughs of NYC and Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island, and with this type of volume we have tremendous logistic, technological and communications demands,” said Alan Schwalberg, Vice President of Emergency Medical Services. “In Motion Technology is our single solution for mobile communications, and has served us flawlessly with our entire fleet and across our entire service area.”

Click here to read the rest of the press release.

ATS of Rockford, IL Improves Response and Turn Times with In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that private ambulance operator, ATS Medical Services, has deployed the company’s patented mobile hotspot technology in its fleet of advanced life support vehicles.

“With In Motion Technology, we provide faster responses, better patient care, and more efficient operations,” said ATS founder and CEO, Andy Schultz. “Today, we provide a level of service that is unmatched by other private operators in our area.”

Utilizing In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway, ATS medics now wirelessly share data with doctors and fleet managers in a way that is improving care, reducing response times and making the service more competitive.

ATS’ new capabilities are driven by the Gateway’s patented mobile hotspot technology that provides reliable, secure connectivity to a variety of wired and wireless devices. This has enabled ATS to integrate dispatch, billing, and patient care reporting systems into a single, paperless system that can be accessed anywhere and saves time and money.

Where ATS medics were once required to spend time after each call entering patient, billing, and other information, today crews get back on the road right away.
“The Gateway has allowed us to cut our turn times in half,” said Schultz. “Our crews can clear from calls and be available much quicker than our competition.”

The Gateway is also GPS equipped, enabling ATS to dispatch the closest available unit, reducing fuel use, improving resource utilization, and achieving the fastest possible response times.

Recently, a heart attack victim transported by ATS received interventional cardiac catheterization care in 14 minutes – well under the 90 minutes recommended by the Society of Chest Pain Centers. En route to the hospital, the ambulance’s Gateway had transmitted diagnostic-quality 12-lead ECG information to the ER in advance of its arrival.

“In Motion Technology has reduced our costs, increased our efficiency, and improved customer service,” said Schultz. “It has enabled us to expand service and gain market share even during the current economic downturn. It has paid for itself ten times over.”

“In today’s highly competitive market, commercial ambulance services must rigorously manage operations and costs while providing the highest standards of service,” said Tony Morris, In Motion Technology’s VP Sales and Marketing. “From the largest nationwide fleets to regional and local companies, private ambulance services across the nation rely on In Motion Technology to perform, compete and succeed.”

Mobile County EMS Deploys In Motion Technology

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Mobile County EMS has deployed the company’s patented mobile networking solution to provide advanced wireless communications and vehicle tracking across southeast Alabama.

“With In Motion Technology’s onBoard Mobile Gateways in our vehicles, we know the exact location of our ambulances and can stay connected with our crews at all times,” said Tracy Wilson, Communications Manager for Mobile County EMS, whose employees respond to approximately 1,200 calls each month, many in remote areas. “This level of connectivity and control has allowed us to reach people in need of emergency care up to 4 minutes faster than we were before deploying the technology.”

Mobile County EMS has deployed In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway throughout its fleet of advanced life support vehicles. At the heart of the Gateway is the company’s patented “Wireless Mobile Hot Spot System” which provides reliable, secure connectivity for laptops, PDAs, heart monitors, and other wired and wireless devices in and around the vehicle. The Gateway consolidates all the data in the vehicle, and equipped with up to 4 network cards, it can then route it dynamically over the best available network connection - 3G, 700 MHz, 4.9GHz, 4G WiMAX, and soon – LTE. The Gateway is also equipped with GPS technology, so dispatchers can reliably pinpoint vehicle locations at any time.

With In Motion Technology, headquarters staff can dispatch the emergency vehicle nearest to the scene, track it with satellite-guided precision, and reroute the vehicle around traffic, construction and other potential delays. At the scene, medics can send and receive lifesaving information including ECG data and patient care records. While en route to the hospital, the Gateway can roam across wireless networks to ensure that ER staff is armed with the information they need to administer care as soon as the patient arrives.

“We spent more than a year researching mobile networking solutions, and our homework paid off,” said Wilson. “The onBoard Mobile Gateway allows us to connect and dispatch our fleet like never before, and the people of Mobile County are safer because of it.” With the onBoard Mobile Gateways now in place, Mobile County EMS has a platform that will allow them in the future to send diagnostic-quality ECG information to doctors, stream live video to operations, and monitor vehicle diagnostics in real time.

“People in rural areas deserve the same emergency medical services as those in more densely populated regions,” said Tony Morris, In Motion Technology’s VP Sales and Marketing. “We are pleased to work with agencies like Mobile County EMS to shorten response times and provide the residents of rural Alabama the best possible care.”

Transfort Deploys In Motion Technology Solutions to Improve Passenger Ride Experience

In Motion Technology today announced that Transfort of Fort Collins, Colorado has deployed the company’s mobile networking equipment to enable new video and information systems providing passengers with improved security and up-to-the-minute bus location.

Transfort has installed In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway in all of its fixed route buses to serve an on-board video camera system that captures and stores video images while the bus is in service. At the bus garage, the Gateway transmits selected onboard video and other information over a secure, high speed wireless link. The Gateway will also allow operations and law enforcement staff to view live video from nearby vehicles, further improving the safety and security of operators and passengers.

Transfort will also utilize GPS (global positioning system) data reported using a cellular connection from In Motion’s Gateway to identify the exact location of buses along their routes. In the future, this information will be displayed to passengers in a variety of forms through Transfort’s Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS) that is currently under development. The Gateway will provide reliable, secure connectivity for systems performing route and schedule management, fare collection and other applications serving Transfort passengers and staff.

The onBoard Mobile Gateway consolidates network access for more efficient, manageable and secure delivery of wireless services to all vehicle systems. It incorporates multiple wireless modems to roam between a variety of wireless technologies. When available network technologies change, agencies can simply upgrade the Gateway to make new wireless services accessible by all onboard systems.

“Our research has shown that residents are increasingly concerned about their carbon footprints and are looking for alternatives to driving that are both modern and convenient,” said Dean Erickson, Transfort’s Director of Information Systems.

“Transfort is committed to becoming this alternative, and to that end is putting the infrastructure in place to be able to meet these expectations. Once deployed, ATIS will provide passengers with information about routes, schedules and the location of buses in real time and can be accessed at stops, in stations, over the Internet, and on mobile phones. This will make traveling on Transfort even more convenient and give passengers better control over their commute and their day.”

“We looked at other technologies for fleet communications, but none offered the flexibility, security or cost effectiveness of the Gateway,” said Erickson. “Once our system is fully deployed, passengers will have unprecedented access to service information.”

“We are pleased to be working with Transfort to provide a communications solution for video and traveler information systems,” said Dave Birarda, VP of Business Development for In Motion Technology. ”Transfort’s advanced bus network architecture will consolidate communications, improve network performance and eliminate redundant costs. It will also simplify the addition of future systems and services for the fleet.”

In Motion Technology Provides Free Wi-Fi During Olympic Games

Vancouver-based In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that it will provide free wireless Internet access to passengers traveling on the “SnowBus” shuttle between Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia, for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

SnowBuses making five daily round trips will be equipped with In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway. At the heart of the Gateway is the company’s patented mobile wireless hot spot technology, which provides reliable, secure connectivity for laptops, PDAs, iPhones and a variety of other devices. The integrated GPS capability will enable SnowBus management and passengers to track the location of buses at any time. Live video will also be streamed from the buses during the games.

To read the release, click here.

In Motion Technology Provides Vital Communications Link for Rural Michigan EMS

In Motion Technology, the leader in mobile networking technologies that efficiently connect and manage equipment, information and people in the field, today announced that Oceana EMS in Western Michigan has joined a growing number of rural ambulance services relying on the company’s wireless solutions for easy-to-use, cost-effective mobile networking that can be upgraded without outside technical support.

“With other solutions, to change wireless carriers, you had to buy new equipment or perform complicated software programming,” said Oceana EMS Director Lance Corey. “With In Motion’s onBoard Mobile Gateway, to change or add additional wireless networks, you just change air cards. In Motion’s solution offers the flexibility and adaptability that we demanded.”

Oceana’s Gateways use Verizon’s 3G network to connect ambulances travelling across a 500 square mile service area. Back at the station, Gateways connect using the headquarters Wi-Fi network.

“We needed a solution that would provide reliable communications in a rural area,” said Corey. “In Motion allows us to focus on saving lives instead of worrying about wireless dead zones and spotty communications.”

In addition to mobile communication support for Oceana EMS’s day-to-day operations, In Motion will soon help local officials plan for mass casualty incidents. Other jurisdictions have deployed In Motion Technology to enable first responders in the field to use handheld bar code scanners, laptops, and PDAs to track and update the status of patients during the chaos of large-scale disasters.

“We are proud that In Motion was chosen to support Oceana’s important mission in Michigan,” said Tony Morris, VP of Sales & Marketing for In Motion Technology. “More than ever, rural medical service providers across the US and Canada are choosing In Motion to provide reliable, flexible connectivity and improve emergency operations.”