Guest guest Posted May 7, 2003 Report Share Posted May 7, 2003 I have been gritting my teeth and trying to keep my mouth shut - something I have never done well. Has anyone else heard the new ONSTAR ad that is a recording of one of their operators taking a medical call? It is being played frequently on the USA Radio Network and I assume in other places. I'm sure ONSTAR thinks it is wonderful. However, those of us in the business might have a problem with the fact that the operator gives the caller the location of the nearest medical facility but does not offer to conference them in, or to send an ambulance, or to transfer the caller to the nearest 9-1-1 center. She also appears to add information " not in evidence " when she calls the hospital, reporting that the patient was injured in a fall when there is no indication that the caller said this was the mechanism of injury. ONSTAR needs to transfer medical calls to 9-1-1 and/or those with EMD capabilities. Reactions? Randy Mace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2003 Report Share Posted May 8, 2003 I heard this ad yesterday morning on the way to work, and promptly forgot about it until I read this digest. The gist of it is, a woman calls into Onstar saying she's been stung by a bee. She knows she's allergic and doesn't have her medication with her, and please tell her where the nearest hospital is. The Onstar rep says that so-and-so medical center is " approximately 14 miles away " and he'll stay with her to tell her which way to turn when she gets to the junctions. I think that, if this is Onstar's policy - to let injured people drive themselves to hospital rather than summon emergency services to the scene to provide advanced care quickly - they're quite irresponsible at the very least. Like most of you, I think the _idea_ of Onstar is a great one. I think the execution of it, as far as I've seen to date, is somewhat lacking. My only personal experience with Onstar (which I think I have chronicled here before) dealt with Onstar reporting a " minor wreck " with " one person with a headache " - 30 minutes after the incident happened - when in actual fact, six of the seven teenagers in the car died, and the seventh had been ejected. I know that is only one incident out of the probably thousands they handle daily, but that's the first impression we've received at my center. --j. Low Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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