Greater Accra Emergency Medical Technicians equipped to lead digital referral system

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) from ambulance stations across Greater Accra are being trained to spearhead the rollout of a new digital referral platform expected to improve emergency patient transfers and help reduce the long-standing challenge of the region's "no bed syndrome."

The two-week Train-the-Trainer programme, currently taking place at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, is introducing EMTs to the Integrated Bed Management and Referral Coordination System (IBMRCS), a digital platform designed to provide real-time information on bed availability across health facilities.

The initiative is being coordinated through the newly established IBMRCS Command Centre at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (Ridge) in partnership with Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), and the National Ambulance Service (NAS).

The programme began with a three-day training for dispatchers responsible for operating the system. The focus has now shifted to selected EMTs from every ambulance station in Greater Accra, who will return to their respective stations to train fellow personnel and support the system's implementation.

Training Facilitator at the Ridge Command Centre, Mr Jeffery Anyakpah, described the initiative as a major milestone in strengthening emergency healthcare delivery in the region.

"This initiative is a laudable one that would go a long way to reduce the no-bed syndrome," he said.

He explained that EMTs would be able to use the system effectively once the Dispatch Console is fully populated with information on available beds across participating health facilities.

Personnel from the Ayawaso East and North, Mamprobi, Pantang, and Dansoman Ambulance Stations took part in the hands-on training at the Command Centre, and participants welcomed the new system, expressing confidence that it would make emergency referrals more efficient.

Senior Emergency Medical Technician (SIEMT), Naeem Ahmed, of the Ayawaso East Ambulance Station said the platform would enable ambulance crews to confirm bed availability before transporting patients, significantly reducing delays associated with searching for facilities that can admit them.

SIEMT Doreen Kwame, of the Kaneshie Ambulance Station, echoed the sentiment, noting that having real-time updates on available beds would eliminate unnecessary movement between hospitals and allow for quicker, more successful patient handovers.

Once fully operational, the Integrated Bed Management and Referral Coordination System is expected to transform emergency referrals by giving ambulance crews instant access to bed availability across participating hospitals. The system is anticipated to improve coordination, shorten transfer times, and enhance patient outcomes while addressing one of Greater Accra's most persistent emergency healthcare challenges.