Construct an IT-based Integrative Emergency Medical Service Model

Abstract

This research is to construct a geographically redundant emergency medical service system by using wireless PDA (personal data assistant) with proper user-interface, the optimum routing software and integrated database management system. XML-native database management is recommended to link to hospitals, other command centers and traffic databases so that the database of medical care capacity of hospitals can be dynamically updated and shared. GIS (geographical information system) and route optimization algorithms are integrated so that the best routing and assigned hospital information can be sent to the EMT (emergency medical technician) in the field when pre-hospital care data form is received from him. By using a GPS-enabled (global positioning system)PDA, the EMT can finish pre-hospital care data form by checking the pre-formatted items easily and send it back via public wireless network such as 3G, GPRS or WiMax, etc. to the center quickly. It can improve the efficiency of the emergency medical care system greatly and force the EMT (emergency medical technician) to file the pre-hospital data on-line. With this information, the hospital can have more time to prepare the resources before the injury arrives. With built-in camera, the EMT can take the pictures of the patient and the scene, and send them back to command center to enhance the functions of pre-hospital care data. Some information is necessary in order to properly construct the system. The needed information includes items of pre-hospital care data form and its display format or the human-machine interface for the PDA, items of medical resources needed for emergency care to be stored in the database, the criterion of optimum algorithm, the criterion of integrative database, the criterion of geography redundancy, and the process of the operations. To collect these six kinds of information, focus group method and in-depth interview are recommended to achieve it.