December 8, 2006

Bad GPS Directions and a new MedicCast News

So how far would you drive before you decided to check your map or stop to ask directions? How about if you had a GPS navigation system? 1 mile, 10, 20? How about 200 miles out of your way and 200 miles back? Don’t believe it? Well, two EMS providers in London were transporting a behavioral patient between facilities for what should have been a 10 mile trip. The GPS system they were using ended up taking them on a 200 mile trip before they thought to stop and ask for directions.

Here’s the article.

One technology expert said this was bound to happen as people blindly try to follow a GPS system and stop watching things like road signs. I don’t know about that. I think that this is a reminder to you that technology is all well and good but remember what you learned about heart monitors. Treat the patient and not the monitor. Use your GPS to help you with turns but take a moment before you set out to check a real life map to get a handle on how far apart those turns are.

I report on this and other EMS news in the most recent episode of the MedicCast News at the Podcaster News Network.