Finnish hospitals up preparedness with new patient transport technology

As one of the actions to increase Finland’s preparedness, the five university hospital districts jointly procured the EpiShuttles, a Norwegian invention that isolates a contagious patient while being treated. With EpiShuttles at all hospitals, Finland stands better prepared to face new pandemics or chemical and nuclear threats.

Tom Silfvast, Chief Medical Officer at the Preparedness Unit at Helsinki University Hospital, said: “We are implementing a highly efficient tool to transport patients with highly contagious disease, or chemical, biological or other contamination necessitating isolation. The single patient isolation and transport unit is designed to provide maximum public safety while allowing critical care and treatment to be performed on the contaminated patient inside.”

The procurement of the nine EpiShuttles are financed by the Government and steered by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health. The new equipment will be used in all the areas that the five University Hospitals covers.  

Sanna Hoppu, Associate Professor and Chief Physician at Tampere University Hospital, added: “With this new technology we stand better prepared for a new pandemic. Contagious patient logistics are complicated. Finland has a lot of remote areas, and transporting contagious patients fast over long distances, into hospitals for treatment is a severe challenge.”