Enhancing Emergency Trauma Room Efficiency with Real-Time Data Transfer and Visualization

Overview

This study evaluates a real-time data transfer and dashboard visualization system designed to improve communication between emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency trauma room (ETR) teams. The system integrates multiple medical devices via a 5G network to provide continuous patient data from the ambulance to the hospital, aiming to optimize emergency workflows and patient care.

Background

In Germany, increasing ambulance rescues necessitate efficient transfer and use of patient data for timely treatment. Trauma centers are tiered into local, regional, and supra-regional levels to optimize care based on injury severity. Effective communication between EMS and ETR teams is critical, yet current telephone-based pre-notification methods are prone to errors and delays. Existing telemedicine systems improve data transfer but often lack integration across devices and real-time visualization. The MOMENTUM project developed a 5G-based communication architecture using the IEEE 11073 SDC standard to unify medical device data transmission and support real-time visualization in the ETR.

Data Highlights

Thirty-two physicians from six German hospitals participated in qualitative interviews evaluating the dashboard prototype displaying live patient data transmitted from ambulances. The system integrates vital signs, ECG, and other clinical parameters via a 5G campus network, WiFi, and Ethernet. Physicians assessed the relevance and presentation of data features to improve emergency workflows.

Key Findings

• The dashboard prototype enabled clear, real-time visualization of patient vital signs and clinical data, enhancing situational awareness for ETR physicians.
• Physicians valued continuous data availability from the accident scene through hospital admission, facilitating better preparation and resource allocation.
• Integration of multiple medical devices into a unified network using IEEE 11073 SDC was feasible and supported flexible data exchange.
• Real-time data transmission reduced reliance on error-prone telephone pre-notification, improving communication accuracy and timeliness.
• Physicians indicated that the visualization system could streamline emergency workflows and potentially reduce treatment delays.

Clinical Implications

Implementing a real-time data transfer and visualization system in trauma care can enhance communication between EMS and hospital teams, enabling faster and more precise patient management. The integration of diverse medical devices into a single network supports comprehensive monitoring and preparation before patient arrival, potentially improving outcomes. Adoption of such systems may reduce errors associated with traditional communication methods and optimize resource utilization in emergency trauma rooms.

Conclusion

The development and evaluation of a 5G-enabled real-time data transfer and dashboard visualization system demonstrate its potential to improve emergency trauma room efficiency and patient care. Continued refinement based on clinical feedback will support broader implementation in trauma centers.

References

1. MOMENTUM Project 2022 -- Real-Time Data Transfer and Visualization in Emergency Care
2. Corpuls.mission System -- Telemedicine in Emergency Medical Services
3. NIDA System -- Telemedical Pre-Notification by EMS
4. Mobimed Unity -- Intelligent Ambulance Service for Real-Time Data Exchange