Falck to diversify EMS to medical clinics and care for elders
Falck, one of the world’s largest Emergency Medical Services (EMS) companies operating in 35 countries is to diversify its life-saving mission in Sri Lanka by launching internationally acclaimed medical clinics with pharmacies with medical health officers and nurses in attendance at 24 x7 on call, a top officer of the company revealed.
The first such medical clinic will be opened in Negombo next month following the launch of EMS in the area shortly, said Jens Poul Madsen, CEO of Falck Sri Lanka in an interview with Business Times.
Jens Poul Madsen standing besides Falck ambulances.
Falck’s activities are based on the core premise of “People helpingpeople”, he said, adding that the company is now providing international standard, professional emergency ambulances, 24-hour doctors for home and office urgent care, and countrywide air medical evacuation services using helicopters with the assistance of domestic air lines.
Outlining the medical clinic concept to be introduced in Negombo, he noted that it is a combination of 24-hour accessibility of a hospital for patients enabling them to obtain treatment from a qualified General Medical Practitioner at any time of the day. The clinic will provide necessary medical health assistance including consultation, medical examinations and diagnostics. The highly trained staff consisting of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s) and Emergency Medical Respondents (EMR’s) will also be engaged in service in the clinic and the pharmacy to maintain Falck’s international service standards.
Three Falck stations (Ratmalana, Wattala and Narahenpita) are currently in operation and their objective is to serve the entire Western Province by March 2015, he disclosed.
All Falck stations are equipped with the latest medical equipment and highly qualified medical professional to provide reliable patient care to every Sri Lankan.
Falck will take measures to create awareness on the role of EMS in saving invaluable life and minimising long-term ill effects to a patient.
For both emergency and non-emergency out of hospital care, Falck’s 24-hour, three-language Communications Centre at Ratmalana uses GPS technology to send the closest professional European style ambulances in a double quick time.
In an emergency, Falck’s highly trained staff including doctors provides immediate emergency treatment and stabilisation for patients on the spot before the patient is transported to the hospital of their choice, he disclosed.
The company aims to build a system to serve people by a well-planned and highly coordinated emergency care system that will ensure a reduction in preventable death and disability.
He noted that one of his dreams is to set up elderly care centres for persons of same status at calm and quiet places to spend their latter stages of life peacefully.
It is a complete change from a simple system of ambulances providing only transportation, to a system of actual medical care on scene and during transport as well as a complete range of medical health care for the people.
The first hour after an accident which is also called the “golden hour” among the clinical community is the most crucial period for the victim’s safety, he said, adding that majority of the victims do not receive proper medical attention before admitting them to hospitals.
In Sri Lanka, 69 per cent of accident victims are transported in three wheelers and he noted that it is very important to stabilise the condition of the patient as it could be a matter of life and death.
The company has a fleet of ambulances and motor cycles with all the equipment needed for fully trained staff and the ambulance is similar to a mobile intensive care unit in a hospital.
Falck’s operations are manned by a competent set of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), Emergency Medical Responders (EMR) and Doctors, while its 24-hour tri-lingual dispatching center is staffed by highly trained Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMD).
Their services also include over the phone instructions in case of a health emergency.
Referring to other facilities offered by the company, Mr. Madsen said that they have linked up with Ceylinco Life to provide a free membership to 24-hour, on-call emergency medical services from Falck to policyholders.