Clinton County Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) has become the first EMS agency in the United States to use the new SPEAX Communication System in the field, allowing patients on ventilation to better participate in their care.
Traditional non-invasive ventilation therapy – such as CPAP or BiPAP – involves the use of a tight-fitting oxygen mask making it difficult for patients to be heard by caregivers and loved ones. The SPEAX device uses a small patch attached to the outside of the patient’s mask and a portable communicator to amplify the patient’s voice with an adjustable volume.
“It’s been a game changer,” says Clinton County EMS Director Steven Deckard. “Before we had to ask yes or no questions and rely on thumbs up and down hand signals to communicate with a ventilated patient. This device allows us to carry on a conversation and allows the patient to participate in their care.”
Deckard was the first to ask the manufacturer about adapting SPEAX for pre-hospital care. His team began using the system in ambulances this past April, making them the first EMS agency in the nation to do so.
“For us as providers, hearing a patient describe what they’re experiencing helps guide treatment,” Deckard adds. “For the patient, being able to speak with loved ones and be understood brings reassurance in a frightening moment.”