Laptop GPS Software for EMS Service - Page 2

awraynor · 02-03-2006, 03:34 PM

We use a semi-rugged Panasonic notebook for electronic patient charting. This company (PinPoint Technologies) produces a suite of products for EMS to include dispatch, billing, trip scheduling and patient charting. We thought that since we already have the laptops why not add the GPS software. Yes, we use a combination of map books and personal knowledge to navigate our area. If we encounter a hospital we have never been to, we call them and say, "hey, how do you get to your hospital". On the 911 backups in the city we rely on the central dispatch center to refine the directions.

Wiredwrx · 02-03-2006, 06:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by awraynor

We use a semi-rugged Panasonic notebook for electronic patient charting. This company (PinPoint Technologies) produces a suite of products for EMS to include dispatch, billing, trip scheduling and patient charting. We thought that since we already have the laptops why not add the GPS software. Yes, we use a combination of map books and personal knowledge to navigate our area. If we encounter a hospital we have never been to, we call them and say, "hey, how do you get to your hospital". On the 911 backups in the city we rely on the central dispatch center to refine the directions.

Not sure how rural your area is, and how quickly things are changing there, but I think IG would be perfect for what you need. Yes, the POI may not be as up to date, but what you are essentially doing in inputing addresses and trying to find them. IG is less cluttered in my opinion then ST. As for Hospitals, they don't change all that often. Most likely they will be in the IG POI list anyway.

Michael

awraynor · 02-03-2006, 07:39 PM

Our base is located in Wilmington, NC which is a relatively congested city which occupies almost the entirety of our county. Almost everything surrounding it is rural, so we have both areas. It pretty much seems we will have to try both products and see what works best for us. Thanks for all the help everyone.

Marvin Hlavac · 02-03-2006, 08:06 PM

Yes, try them both and see what works for you. It seems the current version of iGuidance has newer version NavTeq map data than S&T, even though S&T was just released about 3 months ago and iGuidance almost a year ago ;-)

iGuidance allows you to save favorite addresses so you could enter locations of hospitals there for quick access.

Yes, since you already have a laptop installed in the vehicle it would be shame not to use it also for GPS navigation. Is the laptop positioned to face the driver or the passenger? Is the driver able to operate the laptop?

awraynor · 02-03-2006, 09:27 PM

We have a center console between the two front seats on which the laptop can sit. Our ambulances are four cab doors, two patient capable Freightliners which are about thirty feet long. Here is a picture in front of Air Force One ( http://www.nhhn.org/body.cfm?id=864 ). We have not had a need for a rigid mount option yet, but this may change with a GPS capable scenario.

grimor2000 · 02-04-2006, 12:48 AM

damn, that's big lol

Marvin Hlavac · 02-04-2006, 06:17 PM

Yes, there must be planty of space even for a 20" CRT monitor

Wiredwrx · 02-05-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by awraynor

We have a center console between the two front seats on which the laptop can sit. Our ambulances are four cab doors, two patient capable Freightliners which are about thirty feet long. Here is a picture in front of Air Force One ( http://www.nhhn.org/body.cfm?id=864 ). We have not had a need for a rigid mount option yet, but this may change with a GPS capable scenario.

Dude, I drove an ambulance in NYC for about 7 years. That thing you linked to is humongous. There is NO WAY something like that would fly in NYC (the biggest ambulance I have seen in NYC is one of those Freightliner truck chassis deals, that that is pushing it). I am guessing you really do not have any "City" area near you. You have got to be all rural if you drive one of those things, and if you are having trouble finding hospitals. Heck, when I worked, there were 20 hospitals with in 15 minutes driving, and I knew where each one was. I have a feeling your hospital runs are in the hours. Definitely rural.

Michael

awraynor · 02-06-2006, 09:18 AM

Most of our transports are within an hour of our home base and we are very familiar with these hospitals. It is the odd occasion that we go into another state or to a hospital we are not familiar with in our own state. It appears my manager wants to spend a little "tech" money and I am all too willing to help her out.

Marvin Hlavac · 02-06-2006, 09:34 AM

I think you will find benefits in using GPS navigation even if you know the area very well. I use iGuidance even when I know exactly where I'm going and how I want to get there just because iGuidance is excellent at calculating ETA. So for example when my wife phones me asking when I will be home, I can tell her I will be home at 4:12pm, or I can tell her I will be home in another 43 minutes ;-)

awraynor · 02-06-2006, 08:53 PM

I had not thought about the use of time tracking with GPS even though I do it in my Acura CL with navigation all the time. Yet another reason to add it.

0l33l · 02-06-2006, 09:05 PM

iG also has hospitals by how close they are.

smkaplan · 02-27-2006, 04:54 PM

I am an on call overnight courier in St. Louis, and I occasionally deliver meds to hospitals within a 200 mile radius. I run delorme street atlas, iGuidance, and MS streets and trips in varying combinations. I like delorme a little better for rural areas, and the way they integrate their pois, but when I need to find a hospital I use iGuidance first. It lets me easily navigate to the hospital by picking the city and picking the hospital from a list. None of the others do this as easily. It alse has the most uncluttered and readable display. I run a laptop on a stand, so I know having to look to the side to see where I am or where I'm turning that is the way to go. It gives you the information you need in an easy to read format, so you don't have to study the thing while you run into the next guy in traffic.

Marvin Hlavac · 02-27-2006, 06:39 PM

iGuidance on a laptop, eh? Try iGkeys - hotkeys for iGuidance. Click here for more info.