It’s the End of EMS As We Know It (and We Feel Better)

As telemedicine capabilities continue to grow and healthcare demands become more complex, Emergency Management Services (EMS) are facing a potential transformation from a chronically underfunded acute-care delivery method to a front-line community health advocate focusing on public health, preventive care, and disease management, as explained by a recent series in the Journal of Emergency Medical Services. Thus far, the application of telemedicine to EMS has revolved around enabling earlier assessment, diagnosis, and treatment during transport, leading to hospitals being more specifically prepared to receive emergency patients upon arrival, faster treatment times, and improved patient outcomes. However, Dr. Orlando E. Rivera, DNP, MBA, RN, a specialist in emergency and prehospital medicine, envisions a broader role for EMS. By adding community health programs targeting chronic disease management, mental health, geriatrics, pediatrics, and substance abuse, for instance, EMS strategy can shift from a reactive response to a proactive approach that addresses “simmering” health issues before they escalate into full-blown emergencies, thus reducing the frequency and severity of emergency situations. 

Traditionally, the EMS system has existed in its own silo, separate from the rest of healthcare. The current funding model has proven inadequate to efficiently meet the emergency needs of patients, resulting in increased response times, challenges in maintaining and updating equipment and technology, and overworked professionals, as described by the National Association of State EMS Officials. Rivera proposes providing EMS personnel with advanced training and specialization, as well as real-time access to specialists via telemedicine, so that EMS can become an integrated part of the healthcare continuum. Since EMS is often the patient’s point of contact with healthcare delivery, this segment is well-positioned to provide early detection, triage, and intervention for a variety of situations where currently their only option is to transport to a hospital. 

With telemedicine technology and predictive analytics based on data management, EMS providers can offer more than the current duties of remote assessments, decision-making, and transport; located strategically throughout the community, these professionals can provide routine screenings, monitor vital signs, provide basic health education, and identify early signs of chronic conditions. These services become especially critical in rural areas, where quick access to healthcare is often limited. By treating patients on-site and redirecting lower-acuity cases to settings such as urgent care or primary care clinics, EMS can increase their efficiency and reduce the incidence and severity of cases that land in emergency rooms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports such a move, while the American Ambulance Association calls for a reformed funding structure that more adequately addresses the costs of providing on-site care and of responding to emergency calls without transporting patients to hospitals.

Of course, with such an evolution of EMS healthcare delivery, the “E” in “emergency management services” becomes outdated; perhaps a more fitting term would be “community paramedicine” or “mobile integrated health” to reflect the expanded role of these healthcare professionals beyond the four walls of a hospital. No matter what we call it, the success of these services depends on having strong, reliable and secure telemedicine connections to remote specialists and providers, even in challenging network conditions ranging from distant rural areas to congested urban networks. The swyMed telemedicine platform was made for situations like these. To learn more about how swyMed has already been integrated into EMS systems with measurable results and can help your organization similarly, contact us here.