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EMTs treating patient on-site

How to Save $10 Billion Annually with EMS 4.0

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency Triage, Treat, and Transport (ET3) pilot program was launched to facilitate diagnosis and treatment of patients beyond a hospital’s walls, particularly in ambulances “in the field”, with the goals of delivering health care services more efficiently and reducing unnecessary Emergency Department (ED) visits. The program was designed to align the incentives for EMS services so patients were treated in the care setting that made the most sense, i.e., EMS would be paid for providing mobile health care rather than only after transporting a patient to the ED. Five years later, with Americans more than comfortable receiving care via telemedicine, the health care industry is well-positioned to expand these services on a wider scale as video-enabled EMS 4.0, saving potentially $10 billion annually across the nation.

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EMT examining little girl's leg injury for telemedicine in-home visit

A New Normal? Telemedicine In-Home Visits May Include Primary Care

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Integrating telemedicine into emergency medical services is nothing new, but the focus thus far has revolved around acute cases and specialties such as telestroke. However, in a recently released proof of concept, researchers questioned this trend and applied the model of telemedicine in-home visits to primary care services. This preliminary observatory study suggests that using telemedicine to bring primary care services into the patient’s home may be feasible, effective, and satisfactory for homebound seniors with chronic medical conditions. Read more

Paramedics prepping patient for transport and EMS telemedicine

Are Paramedics Ready for EMS Telemedicine?

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As video communications infrastructures and telemedicine technology constantly improve, the opportunities to expand telemedicine into new fields are multiplying rapidly. One such area, mobile health (mHealth), refers to the application of telemedicine technologies in areas beyond the four walls of a hospital or clinic—in other words, medicine on-the-go. For instance, EMS telemedicine (Emergency Medical Services) integrates telemedicine into ambulances so that paramedics can contact a specialist at the hospital for an initial assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan—even before arriving at the emergency department (ED). This capability offers the potential to save crucial minutes for patients like stroke victims, for whom the drug of choice—tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)—must be administered within a certain time frame to be effective and life-saving. Indeed, a recent meta-analysis of over 6,600 patients treated with tPA found a strong correlation between EMS telemedicine availability in the ambulance and decreased times from symptom onset to treatment. However, the technology can only be useful if the operator can wield it effectively; how do paramedics value and use mHealth? Read more

doctor reaching up to drawn spaceship for space telemedicine

Learning from Space Telemedicine

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As you’ve probably heard lately, July 20, 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of humans’ first moon landing via the Apollo 11. Since then, NASA and other space agencies have successfully launched many astronauts and brought them back home safely and in good health. But considering the limited space and resources onboard spacecraft and the International Space Station, how do astronauts handle medical issues? To address this question, NASA developed space telemedicine—one of the earliest adopters of the technology. Some of the key lessons learned from these experiences are proving useful in medical clinics here on terra firma, particularly in resource-constrained environments. Read more

ET3-video-enabled-ambulance

Anthem Begins EMS Reimbursements, Even without Transport

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When it comes to EMS reimbursements—even without transferring the patient—Anthem BlueCross BlueShield is leading the way. In an era when community paramedicine, mobile healthcare concepts, and telemedicine programs have sometimes struggled to garner financial support, Anthem quietly began paying for on-site treatment by EMS in situations where the consult does not result in a ride to the emergency department. Read more

EMS World Expo

EMS World Expo Oct. 3-7: All Things EMS (Including Telemedicine)

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Don’t miss the upcoming EMS World Expo! Also known as “The Largest EMS Event in North America,” this conference and trade show will be co-hosted with the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT) in New Orleans from October 3 through 7. Read more