I am a paramedic, and I work in tech. I love smart devices and the potential they hold. Normally on an advanced life support level ambulance you use your 1st in bag to provide patient care on emergencies. You may have additional and restock equipment in the ambulance cabinets. Those cabinets are restocked by the crew and or other staff. Some agencies use bar code scanners to keep track of their back stock to avoid running out of items. Often, real time use of supplies does not match the re ordering process of items and chaos and supply shortage may occur. Here is a solution.
Automating Restock Of Emergency Ambulance Supplies:
2 zones: Ambulance cabinets and first in emergency response bag. First in bag to be maintained by crew and staff.
We are focusing on restocking of emergency medications and supplies in ambulance cabinets. Cabinets with installed:
A. Par level detection using weight based sensors in shelving/cabinets and/or supply totes.
B. Electronic/magnetic sensors to detect presence or absence of an item.
Ambulance cabinets are commonly used to restock the first in bag/jump bag during the shift when crew is on the go. Ambulance cabinets are commonly stocked at end of shift by crew/staff. In the past stock was maintained by manual inventory count or supply room barcode when items in ambulance supply cabinets were replenished.
Now:
A. Weight based sensors send alerts when a pre determined par level for item has been reached based on weight. Designated employee is notified that an automated re order will occur soon. When par level is reached item is automatically ordered. This process is set in place in a time frame allowing newly ordered items to arrive prior to any item running out or becoming dangerously low.
B. Electronic/magnetic sensors: Detect absence of an item and issue an automatic re order. Amount of stock is maintained to prevent running out and keep 1 item on cabinet shelf and several in back stock. When shelf item is used back stock is replenished accordingly.
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