Future Technologies
The transport vehicle is an unstable environment as patients are at risk of further injury and/or decompensation. Therefore, the transport setting should be situated in a critical care setting as close as possible to an inpatient critical care unit.
An emergent technology that has been advancing rapidly to aid this is the use of telemedicine in the monitoring and treatment of transported patients. Telemedicine allows physicians to help with the care of a patient in a facility in a remote region. On arrival at such a facility, the transport team can send live data and video via video conferencing equipment through cellular communications or satellite technology to a receiving physician to help in the management of the patient. Moreover, the ambulance unit can also be considered a “remote facility.” Real time data and video can be streamed to the physician specialist who can give medical advice to transport team personnel on the care of the transport patient. Future research and pilot projects should be conducted to determine the benefits of real-time patient data on transported patients.A nice complement to telemedicine is the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs). Compared with paper records, an EHR system is a speedy and efficient means to maintain critical medical information. Paper records can be bulky and cumbersome and can take up costly space. An EHR provides immediate access to key information, especially during a serious emergency situation. Other significant advantages EHR have over paper records include improved legibility, accuracy, and completeness. In the transport environment, this is important, because legibility in a vibrating ambulance can be compromised. Radiologic images and other diagnostic tools all create an electronic image or information; therefore, an EHR system is an idea tool to store and transport of this information in one place. As with any transport equipment, EHR devices should be small, portable, and user friendly. Advancing technology will allow EHR functionality be available on smart devices, such as tablets and smart phones.