Smart Emergency Department: A Technology-Driven Emergency care Model for the Future

Author(s):

Yudara Kularathne, Sohil Pothiawala, Ting Poon Ping

The current model of emergency care is being challenged with increasing demand as well as the current COVID-19 pandemic. This review presents a different approach to emergency care that is technology-driven to meet future demands. The focus is on adoption of new and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, the internet of medical things, cloud technologies; mobile apps, patient wearables; and decentralized patient records using block-chain technologies to provide care in the prehospital setting, emergency department as well as during subsequent follow-up. Many technologies discussed herein have shown great potential in other industries and are part of industry 4.0 protocols. Appropriate use of these tools will transform emergency medicine into one of the most technology-savvy, future-ready medical specialty.