From Radio Chatter to Real-Time Data: Modernizing EMS–ED Communication

An EMS medic, an MVA, a STEMI, a stroke—and everyone’s still playing “telephone” with the hospital. In this episode of EMS World Podcasts, host Mike McCabe sits down with Mitch Scott, Solutions Architect at General Devices, to tackle one of EMS’s biggest headaches: communication and coordination with the emergency department and specialty teams.

Scott breaks down how GD’s e-Bridge platform lets crews securely send photos, EKGs, videos, and patient data straight from the field to the ED, cath lab, stroke team, transfer centers, and more—all in one HIPAA-compliant app that never stores images on personal devices.

They dig into real-world pain points: long wall times, “we never got your call,” lack of accountability, rural agencies with hour-long transports, and busy EDs juggling multiple priorities. You’ll hear how features like GPS tracking, acknowledgement alerts, and detailed timestamps create a defensible QA/QI trail and give everyone—from medics to cardiologists—a shared, real-time view of the patient before they hit the door.

If you’ve ever felt unheard on the radio or wished you could “show, not tell” your next handoff, this episode is for you.