The role of digital health in emergency medicine education

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the need for a well-trained emergency medicine (EM) workforce in India, there are still many shortcomings. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the limelight the critical importance of digital health data, tools, technologies, and services in monitoring and combating adverse health effects of the pandemic. On the other hand, relevant health care stakeholders have often been underprepared to embrace digital health solutions wholeheartedly and rise to the pandemic challenge. The Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020–2025 clearly states how relevant digital health interventions (DHI) would enhance the access and improve the health outcomes, if used judiciously. Currently, India’s G20 Presidency health priorities are focussed on health emergencies prevention, preparedness, and response, by incorporating digital health at its core. Keeping these policy directives in mind, health professional educators should actively incorporate DHI as an integral part of health professional education for the domain of EM. To attain an optimal growth of EM as an academic discipline in India, the curriculum has to be made up to date, incorporating the latest DHIs. The PG curriculum committees of both the National Medical Commission and the National Board of Examination must form a consensus for implementing such curriculum throughout India. The modern-day emergency room (ER) or casualty may soon have AI-enabled robots doing a lot of repetitive and precise activities to save lives. Healthcare professionals working in the ER have to be aware and efficient in handling these robots and other clinical decision support systems well.