The ambulances in LaCrosse use 3G mobile wireless network to link to local hospitals. They aren’t applying all of the bells and whistles – but they are saving times, which in the ambulance world, saves lives.

The don’t send graphic files or connect via video but they are able to send patient monitoring, which can then be emailed to any and all perspective hospital staff members – they are also able to talk to the hospitals to see who is best able to meet the needs of the patient now.

In LaCrosse they use In Motion Technology’s mobile gateway technology. The units cost about $2,500 each and they spend about US$40 a month for Alltel text services to send files.

In Motion Technology has tools that are more reliant on broadband and do use the bells and whistles but LaCrosee doesn’t use them because of concerns of WiFi coverage in the rural areas they serve, which include Minnesota and Iowa.