(Pierre, SD) — Lawmakers in Pierre are getting a front-row seat to the future of emergency care. An ambulance parked outside the state Capitol Monday wasn’t responding to an emergency. Instead, it was showing off new tech that connects EMTs with emergency doctors live via video while they’re still on the road with a patient. It’s part of the Telemedicine in Motion project from the South Dakota Department of Health and Avel eCare. Governor Larry Rhoden was there too. He says thanks to big investments in rural broadband, doctors can now ride along virtually, making faster, better care possible even hours from the nearest hospital. Lawmakers and the public got to try the system out themselves. Avel’s Rebecca VandeKieft says the video support lets ambulance crews focus more on patient care and less on paperwork or calls. Right now, the system is up and running in 105 communities, covering over 80 percent of South Dakota.
