Introduction
A large number of patients are using the emergency departments (ED) of hospitals as their gateway to medical care. Even with the proficiency and experience of the ED staff, medical errors occur as a result of difficulties corresponding with complex patient tracking and information processing systems.
Recommendations are made for the best technology to be used for patient tracking, workflow management, communication among providers, and a clinical information system to replace the paper-based system for the betterment of doctors as well as patients.
Health information technology (HIT) is proving to play a prominent role in monitoring clinical events, providing real-time decision support and feedback on entered data, and also by generating alerts and reminders. Investment in HIT can result in improved workflow, reduced long-term operating costs, and minimized medical errors.
How Is Emergency Medicine Evolving?
Medicine has already started making use of algorithms, artificial intelligence, virtual assistants, robots, drones, portable devices, simulators, and virtual reality for its betterment. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer emergency admissions for traditional reasons like myocardial infarctions, cerebrovascular accidents, and minor or major injuries have been seen. Despite the disruption of usual functioning, new clinical and ethical challenges for physicians have emerged. But emergency medicine doctors will always be essential to provide specialized, curated care for unplanned and unexpected emergencies.
What Are the Challenges in Emergency Medicine Today?
Some of the challenges faced in emergency medicine come in legal, ethical, technological, capacity-related, and clinical forms. Crowding in EDs affects the quality, safety, and timeliness of emergency care, because of environmental factors or operational inefficiencies. Treatments that involve the regular transfer of patients into crowded, noisy, and often chaotic ED environments make emergency medicine more vulnerable to medical error.
What Are the Advancements in Emergency Medicine?
The Field of Medical Artificial Intelligence (AI) - Includes clinical decision support, triage, admin support, predictive analytics, and diagnostic imaging like ultrasound, X-rays, etc.
Artificial Intelligence for Logistics and Capacity Allocation:
- Algorithms provide the logical solution to mine data for better predictions.
- It predicts the statistical probability of accidents on roads.
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It helps in the planning of daily capacity allocation within countries.
Supportive Video Games:
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Gaming features are fusing well with digital health and can, therefore, positively influence emergency medicine. The Canadian start-up Level Ex has developed mobile video games which train medical professionals.
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For example, the Airway Ex application simulates real cases and therefore offers realistic scenarios for doctors and paramedics to prepare them better for challenging airway management.
Applications for Emergency Care:
- The cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) event tracking tool allows users to document critical interventions.
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A mobile application allows paramedics to be aware of an emergency situation before arrival and prepare beforehand.
Driverless Ambulances:
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Proper transportation has always been a significant barrier to access to healthcare.
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Driverless ambulances have been launched to provide services for non-emergency medical transportation.
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They help patients to reach hospitals securely and reliably.
Portable Diagnostic Devices:
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This can include ultrasound or laboratory testing.
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Point-of-care ultrasound devices (PoCUS).
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Blood gas analyzers for blood tests.
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State-of-the-art respirators.
Medical Drones:
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They help in delivering automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) directly to people who have just suffered a heart attack.
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They also allow the team to give feedback through a video connection.
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These drones are also used to transport medical supplies like vaccines, drugs, and even medical aid.
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They also enable healthcare facilities to receive emergency blood packs within minutes instead of hours.
Telemedicine:
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High-tech camera equipment and sophisticated software are used for telemedicine which provides rural hospitals access to specialists.
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Hospitals are also moving towards telepsychiatry and tele-neurology for consults when the high-demand specialists are not available on site.
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Advancements in telemedicine can also help patients in virtual checkups with ER staff before arrival, which helps patients to decide whether they can delay a visit to the ED.
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Algorithms and artificial intelligence will help with triaging patients so that they can get medical care at the right time and place.
Barcodes Tie Patients to Testing:
- This is a relatively new addition to the ED.
- The patient receives a wristband attached with a unique code, and the scanner captures the code and ties it to any test, lab result, or procedure the patient received during an ED visit. The technology can reduce the incidence of manual errors.
- Scanning technology also can prevent prescription mishaps, such as giving the wrong pill.
What Are the Uses of Technology in Emergency Departments (ED)?
Technology decreases workload and roles in the ED, which can lead to fewer inefficiencies.
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Role of Cognitive Work Analysis (CWA) In ED Design - CWA provides insights into the collaboration between human and non-human agents to perform better tasks.
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Dynamic Sustainability in a Resilient ED System - Innovations to make the physical environment more compliant such as mobile devices, may degrade resilient performance over time.
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Artificial Intelligence to Tackle Disasters And Famine - Assessing data on armed conflict or natural disasters related to climate change frontward over time allows algorithms to set up trends and patterns that are essential to convey health emergencies more effectively.
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Pioneering Triage Projects in the World - A world-first project succeeded in developing a triage algorithm and also incorporating it into a drone to triage accident victims from the air. The drone can remotely measure vital signs and clinical parameters of victims like heart rate, respiratory rate, etc. — data that is imperceptible to the human eye and will help us make decisions in less time.
Applications for Diagnosis and Assistance During Travel:
- There are digital platforms that provide 24 hours medical services and consultations through chats.
- Patients can manage emergency travel situations fast and easily through video consultation using a digital customer-focused support solution.
What Are the Recent Advances in the Detection and Identification of Disease?
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Early detection can be done using myoglobin and troponin I and T.
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Patients with acute ischaemic chest pain can be detected with the help of exercise stress testing.
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ED has an important role in identifying domestic violence victims and providing social support.
Conclusion:
The emergency services of the future seem more data-based, efficient, streamlined, and quicker than ever before while considering the limitations of doctors and establishing the needs of the patient. Optimistically, within a few years, there will be a lower waiting time for receiving the proper care.
