A Methodology to Reduce Technical Risk in the Development of Telematic Rescue Assistance Systems

In Germany demand for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) physicians is outstripping supply. Telematic Rescue Assistance Systems (TRAS) offer the opportunity to use EMS physicians more efficiently by reducing the on-scene time. By transmitting audio, vital signs and video data telematically, they bring the expertise of a remote elder EMS physician, a hospital or otherwise specialized institution to the emergency site. However, with increasing complexity of the systems the technical risks become harder to manage. A more formal approach to reduce these risks is needed to ensure patient safety. In this paper some exemplary properties that are more or less inherent in all TRAS are presented. Based on these features and existing work, a methodology to reduce technical risks in developing TRAS is introduced.