“The ZNA Cadix PIT completed 4,457 trips last year, which is an average of one trip every two hours.” — © GZA Hospitals
The emergency center (112) sends out a PIT if someone is in a serious, but not life-threatening condition. With the additional PIT vehicle, the city now has three in use. “Thanks to the additional PITs, we can provide patients with appropriate care faster and better.”
A PIT (Paremedical Intervention Team) has more options and equipment than an ambulance, and can answer some of the calls for which a MUG (Mobile Urgency Group) is often sent out.
“For example, this concerns patients with diabetes and a blood sugar level that is too low, someone with chest pain, someone who is short of breath or no longer conscious. The urgent transport of patients between two hospitals is also an assignment of the PIT,” says Bart De Cleen, head emergency nurse at GZA Hospitals campus Sint-Vincentius.
Bart De Cleen — © GZA Hospitals
“A PIT has an ambulance attendant and an emergency nurse on board,” De Cleen continues. “The latter has – in addition to the nursing diploma and after completing additional training – a special professional title to be able to carry out PIT or MUG assignments, among other things. For example, the nurse may also administer pain relief, which increases the comfort of the patients during transport to the hospital.”
4457 interventions
Until now, two PIT vehicles were in use in the city of Antwerp: last year ZNA Cadix started a PIT as a pilot project, and since January 8 this year a second PIT has been in operation with a rotating role from GZA Hospitals campus Sint-Augustinus and ZNA Middelheim. On April 1, a third PIT was put into use on the Sint-Vincentius campus.
“ZNA Cadix’s PIT completed 4,457 trips last year, which is an average of one trip every two hours. If a PIT is not available or the response time is too long, the 112 center either sends out a MUG with an ambulance, or calls a PIT from the hospitals in the Antwerp periphery. Thanks to the extra PITs, we can provide patients with appropriate care faster and better. Moreover, we can use the MUGs for situations where they are really needed.”
READ ALSO. Two new PIT vehicles must take the pressure off: the number goes from one to three
PIT vehicle on Sint-Vincentius campus — © GZA Hospitals
Tags: GZA Hospitals campus SintVincentius puts PIT vehicle Antwerp
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