The Emergency Medical Team Operating System - a vision for field hospital data management in following the concepts of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine

Abstract

In times where sudden-onset disasters (SODs) present challenges to global health systems, the integration of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM / 3PM) into emergency medical responses has manifested as a critical necessity. We introduce a modern electronic patient record system designed specifically for emergency medical teams (EMTs), which will serve as a novel approach in how digital healthcare management can be optimized in crisis situations. This research is based on the principle that advanced information technology (IT) systems are key to transforming humanitarian aid by offering predictive insights, preventive strategies, and personalized care in disaster scenarios. We aim to address the critical gaps in current emergency medical response strategies, particularly in the context of SODs. Building upon a collaborative effort with European emergency medical teams, we have developed a comprehensive and scalable electronic patient record system. It not only enhances patient management during emergencies but also enables predictive analytics to anticipate patient needs, preventive guidelines to reduce the impact of potential health threats, and personalized treatment plans for the individual needs of patients. Furthermore, our study examines the possibilities of adopting PPPM-oriented IT solutions in disaster relief. By integrating predictive models for patient triage, preventive measures to mitigate health risks, and personalized care protocols, potential improvements to patient health or work efficiency could be established. This system was evaluated with clinical experts and shall be used to establish digital solutions and new forms of assistance for humanitarian aid in the future. In conclusion, to really achieve PPPM-related efforts more investment will need to be put into research and development of electronic patient records as the foundation as well as into the clinical processes along all pathways of stakeholders in disaster medicine.

Keywords: Conceptual and technological innovation; Disaster medicine; Electronic patient record; Emergency medical team; Health policy; Improved individual outcomes; Patient needs; Predictive preventive personalized medicine (PPPM / 3PM).

Fig. 1

Vision of a comprehensive information system for field hospitals with the four main features that are needed in the field: electronic patient records, emergency medical team (EMT) management, reporting and data exchange, modularity and flexibility

Fig. 2

Clinical repositories in Emergency Medical Team Operating Systems (EOS) serve multiple purposes, patients’ master data and clinical data will be applied for administrative or logistical (e.g., stock management) use cases