Launched medics network always on standby for emergencies
This is a network that will make it a lot easier for medics to attend to emergencies with just a simple click.
After many years of working in medical services, Jade Pfohl decided to move to a vibrant South African technology start-up company called AURA, which has an inspiring vision to create a world where everyone is safe.
Pfohl recently grabbed a copy of Fourways Review to read the story of how two men were saved by Good Samaritans on the Witkoppen road on June 27 after a tragic accident. This was an act that triggered some emotions.
“I read the article and it brought mixed feelings, frustration that the injured and their life savers didn’t get the help they so desperately needed on the first call.”
But then she remembered that she is currently on something positive which is a network for medical practitioners to be able to attend to emergencies from just a simple click.
“Secondly I had a feeling of affirmation that that life-saving response network of independent medical responders that we are building at AURA is very much needed.”
AURA is a technological platform that democratises access to emergency response services in South Africa and abroad.
“My role is to manage the Global Medical Operations for AURA, our South African network of EMS services spans across all nine provinces, with hundreds of emergency response vehicles that are ready to respond to those who find themselves in a medical emergency using our groundbreaking technology.”
She said the idea to build the network became evident when she realised that there are medical practitioners who are always willing to go beyond expectations.
“It is extremely likely that wherever you are in our country right now, there are more medics, nurses, and doctors within a 5 km radius of you than ambulances. We realized we need to call on these Good Samaritans to help bridge the gap between an emergency happening and an ambulance arriving.”
“It quickly became apparent that no matter how many ambulances and response vehicles we had on the network and how well our technology worked to identify the closest in an emergency, we still dealt with incidents where we did not get help fast enough. Whilst a response time of 10 – 15 min is great and trumps the industry standard, it is still often too long in some medical emergencies. We need to be able to get to people within five minutes if we truly want to make a significant life-saving impact.”
“South Africa has some of the world’s best healthcare practitioners all around our country who are more than willing to step up when needed and we have the technology to be able to alert them of emergencies in and around their locations.”
This is how it works, “First responders can sign up via a link or QR code, we will review each application and once approved, add them to our platform as an independent medical responder,” she explained.
“Each responder will be given access to our AURA responder app, should any medical emergency fall within five minutes or 5km of their location they will be alerted to respond.”
She added, “They would then need to accept the call to help, follow the in-app navigation to the person in need and initiate treatment. Our 24/7 365-day control room will support the responders every step of the way and ensure that a private ambulance is not far behind to take over care.”
She said they have completed a successful pilot phase and are now in the process of building out this life-saving network.
“We are looking for, and onboarding first responders, anyone who is HPCSA registered can sign up. Medics, nurses, and doctors are welcome.”
She said by combining security and medical responders on their network and technology, “we can send help within minutes, our technology eradicates the need for lengthy dispatch protocols, and manual intervention and gets responders to the scene in record time. We are decreasing response times and most importantly saving and protecting lives.”
People who are interested to sign up and join Pfohl in saving lives, she said they can reach her through the email address: jadep@aura.services or scan the QR code.
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