National Institute for Emergency Medicine cooperated with Local Administrative Organization organized   the 3^rd National Emergency Medicine of Local Administrative Organization  Forum under the title “Digital EMS toward Smart City Development”.

 In the meantime, Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organization promoted a template of emergency plan in area by using digital system.

 National Reform Council now prepares to promote National Emergency Center by gathering many organizations to collaborate in order to serve emergency patients efficiently.

At Taksila Hotel, Amphur muang, Maha Sarakham Province, Maha Sarakham Provincial Administrative Organization cooperated with National Institute for Emergency Medicine and Local Administrative Organization, Thailand Provincial Administration Organization Council, Thailand Thambon Administration Organization Council, The National Municipal League of Thailand and Department of Local Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Maha Sarakham University organized the 3^rd National Emergency Medicine of Local Administrative Organization  Forum under the title  “Digital EMS toward Smart City Development”.

Doctor Pairoj Boonsirikhamchai, the deputy secretary general of National Institute for Emergency Medicine ,said people who participated in  this seminar would experience the new innovation of technology in communication and digital information about emergency medicine in a various dimensions. The contents of the seminar intended to develop  emergency medicine system managed by the  Local Administrative Organization and using technological information  to assist emergency medical staffs for  a quick and  efficient lifesaving  countrywide. These new knowledges can be applied to reduce death, disabilities rates and increase numbers of survival patients more, especially people who live in remoted areas and have no access to transportation.

At the seminar there were discussions about policy and strategies of Local Administrative Organization with Digital EMS toward Smart City Developmentby Field Marshal Choosin Kunathai, member of National Reform Council. He said that we were aware of how emergency sickness suffered and troubled people. Emergency could happen anytime and could cost our nation as well, the statistics show that 65% of emergency was the typical sickness and 35% was from car accidents. The total numbers of both regular and accident emergency patients were more than 300 people a day. Statically, 15 out of 300 emergency patients became disabled, which critically caused damage to our economy. It approximately cost five hundred thousand millions baht per year. For this reason, the pre hospital care is essential at the crime scene to treat patients in order to reduce death rate and injuries.

Member of National Reform Council continually revealed thatNational Reform Council proposed to the cabinet for a reform of emergency medicine in Thailand. It consists of three main parts, first of all, to prevent a confusion and any complication that might occur, the use of only one emergency number that supports and is compatible to all the emergency system countrywide was proposed.

He believed that today technology and advanced communication could identify the patient’s personal information and medical problems they have and also can locate where patients are immediately.Secondly, people need to understand and learn about emergency conditions, then they would be able to explain to call center correctly. Plus, they need to learn how to perform a basic CPR or first aids starting from school.  School must give priority to this course so children understand and master these basic skills.  Hopefully, they can save life when necessary before help arrives. The last part is about the guideline on the pre hospital care methods and emergency operation procedure at the scene it was proposed that each call center should have an efficient high technology equipment including medical personnel to accommodate emergency needs promptly. Moreover, the ALS (Advance Life Support) ambulance along with the paramedics should stand by  24/7 countrywide. There was also another propose asking all stakeholders to establish the national emergency hotline center collaborating with  a variety of departments or agencies at this center.

Mr. Niphon Boonyamanee, Mayor of Songkhla Provincial Administrative Organization said that  in order to reduce gap between urban and rural area,  everybody ,  regardless  who you are and where you live  must be treated and served equally, especially in terms of medical service. People  from all over the country must have an access to emergency medical service to reduce the number of death, disabilities .The Provincial Administrative Organization is an agency who is in charge to ensure that public access to emergency medical service.  Songkla has implemented this process for quite some time. Though, at the beginning, there was a concern regarding a jurisprudence that does not comply with the Local administrative Act and the Thesaban Act. Based on Decentralization Act, the regulations and a declaration of Ministry of Interior authorizes the Local Administrative government to conduct this matter. As a result, Songkla is one of the province that its jurisprudence allows any administrator to continue proceeding this emergency service in the area. Consequently, the CCTV system have been installed to establish the network among all stakeholders and involving in emergency medical service. The goal is to work collaboratively with other agencies when there is an emergency. There are 127 Tambon in Songkla and each of them has their own ambulance standing by to serve and coordinate to send help in all areas.

Mrs. I-rada Luengwilai, deputy director of Electronic Government Agency said that nowadays information technology system play a major role in our lives. Almost everyone has an internet access and smart phone therefore, Thailand 4.0 or digital Thailand project is something we need to consider. Recently, the government have settled a work development plan and we proposed a digital plan for economics and society to the cabinet for considering on March 8, 2017. In addition, the health system development plan was included in this plan as well. We promoted and encouraged all stakeholders in health care to share some ideas and problems they dealt with. Moreover, what issues should be a first priority as a standard tool to facilitate health personnel staffs to serve and provide a better quality of life to people.

Many experts mentioned the how integration and connection of information could be used as a managing tool in public health. Siriraj and Ramathibodi Hospital have initiated to store patients ‘personal information in digital system and application. The QR code is attached on patients’ medication packs, then when patients scan the QR code, the information of  medication could be retrieved,  and also when to take it, and what kind of side effects could occur after taking this medication.

In case of emergency, the paramedics or rescuers could take advantage of scanning a medication packs belongs to the patient to retrieve the medication problems and medications the patient is taking and if he or she is allergic to any kind of medicine. Furthermore, an emergency patient can bring this medication pack to the nearest hospital and have it scanned to help doctor identify the medication problem. This is just an example of the development of the digital system in public health use. We need to support this idea so it will be gradually progressed in the future.

In this seminar there are more than 2000 participants. There are some academic discussions from many scholars. More than 80 booths displaying medical emergency products, innovation and new information technology on emergency medical service are present at the seminar.