From October 13, changes to the rules for providing emergency medical care and medical aviation come into force in Kazakhstan. They provide for automatic notifications of ambulance dispatch, online tracking of its movement, and equipping medical workers with body cameras. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
At the same time, the order does not specify the actual launch dates for these functions in each region.
Online tracking of ambulance movement
After a brigade is dispatched, the patient must be automatically notified of its departure and given the ability to track the vehicle's location and movement in real time via geoservices.
An ambulance can be called by dialing 103, as well as through mobile applications, messengers, and chatbots, including with geolocation transmission.
Distribution of calls
Calls regarding urgent conditions will be directed to mobile brigades of primary health care organizations — polyclinics. This refers to acute diseases or exacerbation of chronic illnesses without immediate and potential threat to the patient's life and health.
On weekdays, mobile brigades work from 08:00 to 20:00. At the same time, registration of calls for redirection is provided from 08:00 to 19:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 12:00 on Saturday.
Outside polyclinic working hours, such calls are handled by ambulance station brigades. A mobile brigade provides assistance at the patient's actual location within its service area, regardless of where the patient is attached.
Arrival times
The rules provide for the following arrival times:
- 01Time is counted from the moment the brigade receives the call from the dispatcher.
Dispatcher consultation
Before medics arrive, the dispatcher must consult the caller by phone for a number of dangerous conditions. The list includes cardiac arrest, breathing disorders, loss of consciousness, bleeding, seizures, signs of acute coronary syndrome and stroke, as well as home births.
Safety measures
For the safety of ambulance and polyclinic employees, they must be equipped with radios, wearable body cameras, and mobile cameras. They are intended for audio and video recording of the situation during a call and during patient transportation.
If a threat to the life or health of medical workers arises, further handling of the call is carried out in the presence of internal affairs officers.
Special procedure for minors
The procedure for actions during hospitalization of a sole parent or legal representative is defined separately. If minor children are left unattended, they are handed over to internal affairs officers for further placement in organizations for children left without parental care.
What is not included in duties
The rules provide that ambulance and primary health care brigades handle calls without writing prescriptions or issuing sick leave certificates. They also do not conduct examinations for alcohol or drug intoxication, examinations of the fact of death, and do not issue death certificates.