Yorkshire Ambulance Service delivers emergency care with Getac’s V110 convertible notebook

When Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s (YAS) existing rugged devices recently came to the end of their working life, staff from across the organisation overwhelmingly chose Getac’s V110 fully rugged convertible notebook to replace them. Read on to find out why…

Ambulance crews face challenging work environments every day

YAS serves a population of over five million people throughout the North of England, answering 700,000 emergency calls and conducting more than one million patient transport journeys every year.

In order to treat patients quickly and effectively, its front-line workers need rapid access to Electronic Patient Records (EPRs) whilst on-scene at incidents, which means they require digital devices that can be relied on in even the most challenging environments. However, the nature of emergency response work, combined with the incredibly diverse terrain and weather conditions often encountered in Yorkshire, means conventional, consumer-grade devices simply aren’t up to the task.

‘YAS covers almost 6,000 square miles across Yorkshire, ranging from isolated moors and dales to urban areas, coastline and inner cities,’ says Martin Scott, ICT Service Delivery Manager, YAS. ‘Our devices must be able to go wherever we go, deliver the functionality we need, and offer exceptional reliability 24/7, to ensure our patients get the best level of care possible in every situation.’

For these reasons, YAS has used rugged technology throughout its fleet of ambulances for a number of years.

However, when its existing devices came to the end of their working life in 2019, rather than replace them like-for-like via the same vendor, YAS took the opportunity to see if there were other rugged solutions available that might better serve its needs.

Getac V110 – rugged technology YAS can rely on in emergencies

Working with stakeholders across the organisation, the YAS Procurement Team assessed devices from a range of leading rugged manufacturers, to better understand how different devices might offer different advantages in the field.

This assessment was then followed up by an organised Supplier Day where a selection of manufacturers, including Getac, were invited to demonstrate their devices to ICT, procurement and front-line staff. Doing so gave them the opportunity to use and feel the equipment, ask questions, and get a true feel for how each of the devices would perform in real-life scenarios.

‘At the end of the event, we asked everyone to score each device across a range of attributes, and Getac’s V110 fully rugged convertible notebook was the favoured device by a considerable margin,’ notes Martin.

The V110 is a compact and lightweight convertible that seamlessly transforms from notebook to tablet computer, offering maximum usability in high-pressure situations. Advanced 4G LTE connectivity and dedicated GPS also means ambulance crews can download vital EPRs and communicate with other teams quickly and easily, even when operating in remote locations.

Most importantly, the V110 is built to survive. Independently tested and certified to MIL-STD-810G, IP65 and MIL-STD461G standards, it offers exceptional protection against the elements, as well as accidental drops, shocks, vibration and dust. As a result, it can be used while on-scene without fear of damage or failure.

Furthermore, its 11.6in LumiBond 2.0 touchscreen means front-line staff can view large amounts of critical information on-screen at once, in all conditions, and can even operate the device when wet or whilst wearing gloves, saving crucial time in the field.

Delivering reliable emergency care throughout the entire region

YAS commenced the roll-out of 500 V110 notebooks and accessories to its personnel in early 2020. The project was completed within a compressed time frame of just five months so that the YAS front-line staff (including paramedics) had the new devices in place as they rose to the challenge of caring for patients in the COVID-19 era.

The V110’s rugged certifications mean it is able to withstand enhanced cleaning regimes adopted by YAS to protect patients and front-line staff from infection throughout the pandemic, offering further peace of mind at such an unprecedented time.

Getac also provided YAS with a significant number of accessories, enabling the organisation to deal with minor maintenance issues itself. Should bigger issues occur, Getac’s Bumper to Bumper Warranty means faulty or broken devices will be quickly repaired and returned, avoiding unplanned downtime, and keeping ambulances in service. In addition, YAS uses Absolute Software with its Getac devices to monitor endpoints on and off the network, investigate potential threats and take action if a security incident occurs.

‘Emergency services work can be challenging and unpredictable, particularly in the remote and difficult conditions found throughout much of Yorkshire,’ concludes Martin. ‘Our front-line staff never know where the next call will take them, which means they need to be prepared for all eventualities. With the V110, we know they are.’

For more information, go to www.getac.com/en/industries/public-safety/