Automated Patient Load Planning for Aeromedical Evacuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current En Route Care (ERC) mission planning relies on manual, paper-based patient positioning plans that are not electronically managed, making it difficult to handle dynamic changes and lack reuse or evaluation, leading to inefficiencies in patient and medical resource allocation during aeromedical evacuation missions.
Innovation Solution
An automated system for managing ERC transport patient and medical equipment loading, using a load manager communications device to transmit and update transport platform profiles, allowing for electronic development, saving, and dissemination of patient positioning plans, and incorporating clinical decision support for optimal patient placement based on physical and environmental factors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual paper-based patient positioning plans are used, then simplicity of implementation is maintained, but productivity and response time to changes deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of creating paper-based patient positioning plans with an automated electronic system. The load management server automatically generates patient load plans by processing patient data, transport platform capabilities, and resource availability through computer algorithms, eliminating manual paperwork while improving generation speed and enabling real-time updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service functionality where the automated load management server independently generates and updates patient load plans without requiring manual intervention for each change. The server automatically processes updates when patient status, resource availability, or transport platform conditions change, allowing the system to serve itself in maintaining current load plans.
2Loss of information
If paper-based plans are distributed manually, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of information and lack of real-time updates increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the load management server continuously monitors patient status, resource availability, and transport platform conditions, then automatically updates patient load plans and redistributes this information to all relevant parties. This ensures all users have access to current information without manual redistribution, preventing information loss while maintaining operational simplicity through automated communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic patient load plan system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores patient positioning information, tracks resource allocation, communicates with transport platforms, updates in real-time, and provides access to all relevant personnel through various communication channels. This multi-functional approach eliminates information loss while the standardized electronic format maintains ease of operation across different users and devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual patient plan creation is used, then device complexity is minimized, but adaptability to dynamic changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic capabilities where the patient load plan system automatically adapts to changing conditions. When patient status, resource availability, or transport platform conditions change, the load management server dynamically recalculates and updates patient positioning plans, then redistributes updated information. This dynamic adaptation occurs automatically without manual intervention, providing high adaptability while managing system complexity through automated processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing patient data, transport platform capabilities, and resource availability to generate initial patient load plans before transport missions begin. This preliminary processing establishes a foundation that can quickly adapt to changes during missions, as the system already has structured data ready for rapid recalculation when conditions change, improving adaptability while reducing the complexity of real-time decision-making.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter provide systems, methods, architectures, mechanisms, apparatus and/or computer implemented method configured for automatically managing En Route Care (ERC) transport patient and medical equipment loading.