Emergency Medical Services: Where We Started and Where We’re Headed

The Origin of Emergency Medical Services

Emergency Medical Services throughout our history have played a big role in increasing the availability of services and the effectiveness of timely medical treatment for those in need. With the first ambulances showing up on the battlefield during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte, the need for medical transportation services has been prevalent for centuries.

Early civilian ambulances were first introduced in 1832 as a way to transport cholera patients. This advancement in medical technology thrust medical transportation into a new age, as patients were now able to be treated on the way to the hospital and hospitals could now become more centralized. With a more efficient way of treating patients, hospitals became less frequent as they were now more accessible from greater distances.

By the 1960s ambulances were in full effect but not in the way that we see today. Medical vehicles were unregulated and often provided an unsatisfactory experience to the patient. This led to government-regulated requirements for emergency transportation vehicles. These regulations provided a unified vehicle experience that required certain medical equipment to be on board and vehicle dimensions that would allow efficient care of the patient during transport.

These advancements in medical transportation have created a system that gives individuals the comfort of knowing that in the case a medical emergency happens, there is a good chance that they will be able to receive the necessary care and can safely make it to a nearby hospital.

Technology and Healthcare

As we move into the 21st century, our technological advancement continues to benefit our daily lives. One industry that has seen a substantial benefit of this advancement is the healthcare industry. New technology plays a crucial role in today’s healthcare environment with everything from digital medical records to advanced medical equipment. This relationship gives the industry a platform to innovate new advancements that directly lead to the betterment of our society as a whole.

All areas of healthcare see the benefits of this relationship in one way or another. Here are a few examples of technology in healthcare that we can see today.

Medical Equipment Technology

Medical equipment is likely the first thing that many people think of when they hear ‘healthcare technology.’ This type of technology is most commonly found at the forefront and often involves direct patient interaction. A famous example of this is the creation of the magnetic resonance imaging scanner. (MRI) An MRI scanner provides healthcare professionals with accurate imaging of internal organs without the restrictions of exposing the body to radiation.

Medical Information Technology

Arguably the most important form of medical technology, information systems as used by today’s medical professionals provides a bridge for practitioners across the globe. Hospitals are no longer restricted by location but now have access to instantaneous information everywhere. In addition to this, digital files are now stored efficiently while abiding by HIPPA compliant regulations. These digital files provide a more efficient process for healthcare professionals and patients alike.

Emergency Medical Service Technology

The advancement of emergency medical service has greatly benefited from innovations made by healthcare providers from horse-drawn carriages transporting cholera patients to motorized vehicles regulated by the government. This innovation continues today as dispatch facilities utilize new technology to manage emergency medical vehicles in efficient ways.

Our Advancements Moving Forward

As we continue to incorporate new innovations in technology and implement them into daily medical tasks, our knowledge, understanding, and efficiency continue to grow exponentially as a society. These developments lead to longer lifespans for patients and more informed decisions on the part of healthcare professionals. With advancements in data collection and dissemination, our medical transportation vehicles are able to use leverage patient information, navigate efficient routes, and in the end, provide a higher quality of service and success rate when treating medical emergencies.