WP 8: Contribution of modern Information and Communication Technology

WP Leader: Dr Jon Legarda (CEIT). WP interaction
Contact

Objectives
To suggest ICT technologies that will improve the overall effectiveness of the health system in handling C and R emergencies.

Work description
WP 8 will review technological advancement within Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). It will particularly highlight recent developments of critical value to the capability and efficiency in handling medical emergencies following the release of toxic chemicals and/or dangerous radioactive material. The appropriate scenarios will be provided by WP 4. A survey of existing generic preparedness plans, methods and tools needed in mass emergencies will be provided by WPs 5 and 6. WP 8 will be carried out in close contact with WP 7 (biotechnology) and base its input on WPs 4, 5 and 6.
The community of ICT covers a wide range of disciplines, from basic hardware devices like sensors, to complex data management systems like telemedicine, all of which could be of value in a mass emergency situation. A matrix of reviews, diversifying the various subtopics of ICT and subtasks of the medical emergency situation, i.e. identifying patients, recording data, communicating and tracing, will be used to demonstrate the application of ICT technologies. Areas identified as having a large potential for development and are of critical value to the medical process will be subject to in-depth analysis and discussions.
From a time perspective, WP 8 will focus primarily on technologies available today and secondly on those available within 2-5 years. In addition, there will be a horizon scan into the field, highlighting particularly promising developments that should be of critical value in a mass emergency situation. The use of electronic, standardized medical algorithms to support the medical personnel in the triage situation will be reviewed in cooperation with WP 7.

Tasks
Analyse outcome of WPs 4, 5 and 6
Literature search

Milestones
WPs 5 and 6 provide background information on the need for ICT based tools and integration in this area.  A report will be generated, summarizing the findings of this group (D7) which will be further used by WP 9 for describing how integration could lead to improvements.  Part of this work will be reviewed and discussed at the seminar (D8).