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Happy #TechnologyThursday!
Some consider these the future of EMS, would you trust a drone ambulance?
Some consider these the future of EMS, would you trust a drone ambulance?
A lot of these products are private/for-profit firms, so I want to start by explicitly declaring I have no conflicts of interest. I like these products because they are trying to solve hard problems in novel ways, nothing more.
A
by @CatherineCounts
A
by @CatherineCounts
First up is @PulsePoint, this app notifies everyday "citizen responders" who are trained in CPR if there is a nearby cardiac arrest in a public location. They can choose to respond and provide lifesaving chest compressions. https://vimeo.com/157539251
Additionally, @PulsePoint has an AED registry that alerts the responder to the nearest accessible AED. Because as we know, in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, early defibrillation saves lives! https://twitter.com/pulsepoint/status/1343304249921339393?s=20
In Washington State, there is a law that requires AEDs be registered with the local municipality. At @SeattleFire we actually use the @PulsePoint App as our formal AED registry for the 911 system, further streamlining the process. https://vimeo.com/178697089
The third way @PulsePoint is revitalizing the space is via their Verified Responder Program, in which off duty EMS providers volunteer to carry an AED and respond to cardiac arrests in public or private locations. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0300957220302513
In Ontario, @Peel_Paramedics has a similar program called Community Responders, they aren't necessarily off-duty EMS/Fire, but they do receive additional special training.
Another app that exists in this space is @GoodSamApp. It has citizen responder & AED registry features, but also allows those calling emergency services the capacity to share their location and live video with the dispatch center. https://twitter.com/drrichardlyon/status/994655625329160192?s=20
The video function of @GoodSamApp is formally deployed by Police & Fire, but is being tested in the EMS setting to help dispatchers deploy the appropriate level of resources to medical emergencies. https://twitter.com/Ldn_Ambulance/status/1194209586028388353
Another company working within the dispatching space is @Corti_ai. They've developed an artificial intelligence/machine learning that could augment the dispatcher in real time during an emergency call.
Since a machine never forgets, but humans do, @Corti_ai is training their machine to identify things like cardiac arrests in real time.
Conceptually this will help initiate bystander CPR more quickly, and activate the right resources ASAP. https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(18)30975-4/fulltext
Conceptually this will help initiate bystander CPR more quickly, and activate the right resources ASAP. https://www.resuscitationjournal.com/article/S0300-9572(18)30975-4/fulltext
We're working with @Corti_ai to modernize our dispatching platforms, and potentially test their AI.
In fact, I'm submitting a grant application in less than two weeks that uses their software, but it's not as if I'm using @RealScientists to procrastinate...
In fact, I'm submitting a grant application in less than two weeks that uses their software, but it's not as if I'm using @RealScientists to procrastinate...
While drone ambulances may not be operational just yet, drone AEDs certainly are.
@RenCtyParamedic has been delivering them to hard to reach places for over 4 years. https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/renfrew-country-uses-drones-to-deliver-defib-units-7-minutes-faster-than-ambulances/422627
@RenCtyParamedic has been delivering them to hard to reach places for over 4 years. https://www.itworldcanada.com/article/renfrew-country-uses-drones-to-deliver-defib-units-7-minutes-faster-than-ambulances/422627
If the idea of a drone AED scares you, don't worry there's been lots of research on when and where this technology would be most useful.
But until we have more than a few case use examples to evaluate it, we'll have to stick with the conceptual. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.120.016687
But until we have more than a few case use examples to evaluate it, we'll have to stick with the conceptual. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.120.016687
EMS been using pagers, radios, and phones to communicate with hospitals since inception, but sometimes things get lost in translation, pages don't get sent, or phone calls get dropped.
@Pulsara is one company fighting this communication bottleneck. https://vimeo.com/407683205
@Pulsara is one company fighting this communication bottleneck. https://vimeo.com/407683205
They've created a technology that allows EMS to activate the *entire* care team with the push of a button before they even get to the hospital.
For non-EMSers, this is not "how it's always been done" and is creating a new norm for the better. https://twitter.com/pulsara/status/1352724717770317825
For non-EMSers, this is not "how it's always been done" and is creating a new norm for the better. https://twitter.com/pulsara/status/1352724717770317825
Police officers all over the world use body cams, but what about EMS?
Conceptually they were originally intended to help with quality improvement, but there is some evidence to suggest they can also help with documentation if needed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27636021/
Conceptually they were originally intended to help with quality improvement, but there is some evidence to suggest they can also help with documentation if needed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27636021/
We're no where near the Jetsons, but there are plenty of smart people trying to find novel technological solutions to hard problems in EMS.
And I for one am excited to see what they come up with next./fin
And I for one am excited to see what they come up with next.
/fin
