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East of England Ambulance Service NHS trust (EEAST) paramedics use handheld devices with 4G connectivity to update electronic patient records (EPR) and share vital information with hospitals via the Summary Care Record (SCR) system. The SCR provides hospital clinicians with a single, up-to-date source of patient information for effective care. However, poor mobile signal, especially in ambulance bays, often delays this digital handover, disrupting patient care and increasing the risk of errors such as medication duplication or omission.
Connectivity challenges also arise from hospital layouts, including metal structures, lead-lined rooms, and outdated designs that hinder signal quality. These issues frustrate clinicians and impede efficient workflows, as delays in transferring patient data reduce their ability to make timely, informed decisions.
To resolve the issue emergency services specialist connectivity provider Excelerate Technology deployed its Hybrid Connectivity solution outside A&E departments at Harlow, Peterborough, Luton and Colchester hospitals. This clever solution allows for permanent connectivity through switching seamlessly between multiple cellular and satellite-based signals (if required) to achieve the strongest, most robust connection at all times, using a specialist router, wireless access points and the latest antennas to optimise terrestrial cellular networks, placed in and around ambulance bays to receive multiple mobile signals and combine them into a single Wi-Fi output to transform internet access in the most affected areas.
Once connected to the system through their iPads, ambulance crews were able to re-connect automatically every time they were in the vicinity.
Key outcomes of the trial
- Over 37,700 devices connected successfully over a five-month period.
- More than one terabyte of data was transferred.
- 9000+ patient records updated in the first four weeks.
- Achieved 99% availability with speeds of up to 127 Mbps.