Paramedic opening the door of an ambulance.

Clinical Device and Notification Platform (CDNP)

The Clinical Device and Notification Platform (CDNP) program is replacing existing monitor / defibrillators, and the notification system used to send electrocardiograms (ECGs) from ambulances and smaller hospitals to specialists in larger hospitals. This upgrade will help ensure patients get timely high quality care.

Paramedic checking the blood pressure of a patient in their home.

The Challenge

Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) are life-threatening conditions caused by sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart, including a type of heart attack called ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

When treating STEMIs, NSW Ambulance and hospitals work in line with the State Cardiac Reperfusion Strategy. This ensures that we get timely and expert clinical help in regional NSW and the pre-hospital environment. Key to this is the ability to access and interpret ECGs quickly, using the best equipment available in ambulances and local emergency departments.

A review showed that the current monitor/defibrillators were outdated, heavy and didn’t always monitor for necessary vital signs. Additionally, the notification platform had limited communication and storage capabilities. It was time for an upgrade.

The new device improves the overall workflow on scene. It provides hands-free monitoring and simplifies vital sign tracking, freeing up paramedics to prioritise patient care and assessment. The new transmission platform allows rapid dissemination of patient information to the care team and helps to speed up decision-making for definitive care.
Rowen Emery, Paramedic, Western Sydney/Nepean Blue Mountains
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The Plan

eHealth NSW worked closely with NSW Ambulance, Local Health Districts (LHDs) and the Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) to replace the near end-of-life devices and introduce new technology to improve patient care and help paramedics and clinicians with their life-saving work.

The new state of the art monitor/defibrillator includes additional features like blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry and support pacing (a non-invasive ventricular stimulation in conscious patients to treat heart attack symptoms).

The devices are actively used to monitor patients and deliver an electrical current shock to a patient’s heart to help it return to a normal rhythm, if needed.

The new transmission platform enables paramedics or clinicians in rural areas to connect with specialist teams in larger hospitals via in-app audio calls. It also includes the ability to send messages. The platform supports the interpretation of STEMIS by allowing ECGs to be transmitted easily from ambulances and small hospitals to specialists in referral hospitals.

In 2022, the technology solution was configured to the needs and workflows of NSW Health.

A two-stage pilot was launched in December 2022 in the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District and ambulance zone:

  • (Stage 1) Device-only pilot: paramedics used the device as their primary cardiac monitor
  • (Stage 2) Device and transmission pilot: both the cardiac monitor and transmission platform were in use to identify benefits and areas for improvement.

Following the pilot, paramedics in metropolitan Sydney were equipped with monitor/defibrillator for practice and training. Extensive sessions were held for paramedics and in-hospital clinicians to ensure effective use of the technology.

On 9 April 2024, the CDNP solution went live in 12 hospital ECG reading services and about 70 ambulance stations in metropolitan and greater Sydney.

I really liked the ECG’s resolution, the camera feature, and the ability to talk and message in the app. The mission is not impossible!
Dr Joanna Koryzna, Staff Specialist, Emergency Department at Westmead Hospital
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Paramedic checking the blood pressure of a patient in their home.

The Outcome

Clinicians involved in the pilot and other recent roll outs have highlighted several benefits of the new technology:

  • enhanced communication between paramedics and emergency departments during critical moments of patient care
  • faster clinical decision-making with access to more information
  • simplified vital sign tracking, allowing first responders to prioritise patient care.

These improvements support the delivery of high-quality treatment for patients experiencing suspected STEMI.

Looking ahead, the CDNP program lays the foundation for future models of care. Through ongoing training, paramedics and in-hospital clinicians are gaining valuable experience integrating telemedicine into emergency care.

As more clinicians across NSW use the platform, eHealth NSW will gather more data to evaluate the program’s impact.

As of February 2025, 1,437 monitor/defibrillators have been replaced.

Paramedics opening the first aid kit in front of an ambulance.

The Benefits

  • simplified vital sign tracking, allowing first responders to focus on care.
  • Faster clinical decision-making to ensure the right treatment is administered quickly
  • Streamlined handovers between paramedics, emergency clinicians and cardiologist, saving precious time in life-threatening cardiac events.
  • Enhanced care quality with more diagnostic and monitoring data available.

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