FRUITLAND, Md. – A groundbreaking technology is helping Fruitland emergency responders be more effective than ever at saving lives. The technology, called Cosmos, allows emergency responders to diagnose and assess people with traumatic injuries in the field.
Clinical educator Matt Wall said the technology changes the process for paramedics who are the first to arrive on scene: “This technology wasn't available in the back of an ambulance before, but now paramedics and firefighters have access to ultrasound, they can see inside the body with ultrasound and they can answer questions that they couldn't before.”
Fruitland was one of the first EMS agencies in Maryland to install an ultrasound machine, and the first in Wicomico County. Fruitland Paramedic Dave Merritt said this is a game changer. “Previously, the paramedics would bring the patient in and send them to an ET or MRI to do an ultrasound, but now we're cutting down on that time and providing better patient care and a better patient experience.”
The first 30 minutes to an hour after an injury is known as the golden hour, and receiving treatment within that time frame is crucial in life-or-death situations. Wall said the implementation of the technology will make the department more efficient and effective. “Ultrasound is becoming the standard of care for patients and given its clinical impact, it should be in every ambulance and every clinic,” Wall said.
Merritt believes this is the next step towards a productive future and is excited to see what happens next: “At the end of the day, we're trying to develop new clinicians, young clinicians, and take football further down the field.”
