IS TELEMEDICINE THE FUTURE OF EMS?

Abstract

Telemedicine is a method of providing healthcare services via an electronic mobile device to a patient, located miles away, without the need of an in-person appointment. In emergency medical services (“EMS”), telemedicine is used before the patient even goes to a hospital, and a medical provider assists the emergency medical care technician (“EMCT”) on scene with the medical decision making and determining the correct disposition. Telemedicine-based EMS has been used: (i) in disaster relief to mitigate the overwhelming number of 9-1-1 calls; (ii) by the Department of Defense, where medics in a Special Operating Force are able to provide a high standard of care in harsh environments; and (iii) during the COVID-19 pandemic, among other areas. This means of providing medical services improves the patient’s quality of care, because care may be rendered more quickly, effectively, and efficiently. This literature review examines the possible future role of telemedicine in EMS in the United States by investigating some current utilization models. This literature review will cover prehospital telemedicine use over the prior two decades. Keywords searched in Pubmed and Scopus were “Telemedicine” or “Telehealth” and “EMS” or “Prehospital.” The role of telemedicine in the future of EMS may be so commonplace that the word “telemedicine” will no longer be used; it will simply be inferred that telemedicine was used.