Artificial intelligence (AI) has quickly made its way into all of our lives - whether we know it or not. AI technology is a big part of what makes our smart devices so intelligent while also helping search engines to better provide the information users are actively looking for.
But AI isn’t just about improving the speed and accuracy we can discover information in our personal lives, it’s also becoming an important application in various industries around the world - including emergency medical services (EMS).
AI-Powered Triage and Dispatch
When you consider the traditional 911 call center, there are many inefficiencies associated with it. Considering that human operators are responsible for answering, classifying, and redirecting calls to the most appropriate response teams. This, of course, is also necessary in addition to the need to carefully vet crank calls or non-life-threatening situations.
AI technology is starting to help streamline these processes while making call dispatch much more accurate and faster. New solutions like Next Generation 911 are being driven by AI-enabled algorithms capable of analyzing the urgency of calls as they come through with the ability to recognize voice patterns and specific keywords and act caller locations to make sure the right services are dispatched when needed.
In these scenarios, EMS teams are able to be deployed much quicker while maximizing available resources that can make the difference between life and death.
More Accurate Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Paramedics have a demanding job, and the pressure of the decisions they make can weigh even on the most tenured professionals. However, when faced with critical decisions regarding a person’s health, being able to rely more on experience can be incredibly valuable.
AI technology can be used in a variety of diagnosis tools and treatment protocols to help paramedics narrow down symptoms and provide guidance on the best course of action when responding to medical emergencies.
These solutions can help to extend the capabilities of EMS professionals by giving step-by-step instructions in more complex scenarios that would otherwise be missed en route to hospitals or when waiting for additional support. This could make a significant impact, especially in disaster zones where roads may be inaccessible or other hazards delay transit times to a local hospital.
Predictive Analytics for Better Resource Management
While an EMS team needs to be adequately prepared for anything in the field, it can take more than just knowing how to react to emergencies to keep the public safe. Being prepared and having the right equipment on hand when an emergency call happens can make all the difference in the level of care that can be given.
New analytics technology that uses AI to decipher trends in call volumes and the ability to identify specific areas where certain accidents occur can help to better prepare specific EMS units with the right tools and information they’ll need to do their jobs more effectively.
Instead of having to rely on human analysts to spend hours compiling call logs and replicating this same type of analysis, AI-driven tools can provide these insights in real-time, helping dispatch to make smarter decisions on where they locate their EMS teams. This can lead to considerably faster response times and more lives saved.
EMS Training and Education
EMS teams go through rigorous training each and every year. However, while the curriculums put in place are carefully vetted by trained professionals and classes are conducted by certified instructors, there are only so many scenarios that can be presented to replicate real-life scenarios.
With AI training tools, EMS trainees can gain access to much more realistic virtual training simulations that can challenge paramedics in a wider range of response techniques. They can also be used to help track the various competency ratings each individual has in different EMS categories while helping to develop personalized training regimens that can help them sharpen specific techniques and broaden their skillsets.
Addressing Ethical Considerations of AI Integration into EMS
Although AI technology is presenting a number of opportunities to help create and improve public safety solutions, there are a number of considerations that still need to be made.
Regulatory bodies are still moving slowly when it comes to integrating AI technology into all areas of the medical industry. Since there is still a perceived possibility for bias in certain AI algorithms, rigorous testing of these solutions still needs to happen before they are widely distributed.
There is also the question of how patient data is used and stored to feed AI tools with the information they need to function. Until governments can ensure the security and privacy measures of these types of solutions, there will still be a certain amount of red tape in place to protect public safety interests.
Author: Kevin Ruef
Kevin Ruef co-founded 10-8 Systems after exceeding multiple companies’ sales records (both domestically and internationally). With more than a decade in sales, his experience ranges from B2B, B2G, and B2C. Since the company’s start in 2019, Kevin has been responsible for business development, strategic partnerships, and business operations.