I am a bit of a computer geek, ask anyone who knows me. When I was in the Navy, living on board ship,  my weekends off were spent with the brand-new computer system learning how to organize everything from storeroom supplies to schedules of the S2 division. My supervisors and shipmates all thought I was crazy to waste my weekends off sitting in front of a computer, but I’ve always had a knack for something new and exciting when it came to computers. Later in life, I decided to combine computers, cloud software, and real time education to meet the needs of EMS providers around the world.  Which leads me to the newest tech feature out there. I know you’ve probably heard some hype about ChatGPT or some of the other iterations of artificial intelligence, so I thought I’d test it out with a couple of questions that I’ve been speaking about for years.

To start, what is an open AI and what exactly does it do? “ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chatbot.” (Ortiz, 2023, para. 1) So what exactly does that mean? Think of a application that with some generalized input can output exactly what you want by scouring the Internet in milliseconds. The system also has the ability to learn. Now as soon as you say the system has the ability to learn, I immediately start thinking Terminator movie.  To be quite honest, it’s a valid concern as there are many public and private tech sector geniuses who think that we need to tread cautiously here. I agree but not at the expense of developing a very powerful tool that can do things like write code, summarize content, and help people in their day-to-day lives.

I asked open AI two specific questions that I have been discussing for years.  Let’s look at what open AI thinks:

My Question:  How can paramedics make more money?

Chat AI’s answer: There are several ways that paramedics can make more money:

  1. Specialize in a particular area: Paramedics who specialize in a specific area such as critical care, pediatrics, or neonatal care, can earn higher salaries than general paramedics.
  2. Work overtime: Paramedics who work more than their standard hours can earn overtime pay, which can significantly increase their income.
  3. Pursue higher education: Paramedics who pursue advanced degrees such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in nursing, healthcare administration, or emergency management, can qualify for higher-paying roles such as a clinical manager or director of emergency services.
  4. Work for private ambulance services: Private ambulance services tend to pay their paramedics more than public ambulance services.
  5. Work in higher-cost-of-living areas: Paramedics who work in areas with a higher cost of living may receive higher salaries to help compensate for the higher living expenses.
  6. Work as a travel paramedic: Travel paramedics work temporary assignments in different locations and may receive higher pay due to the need for their services in remote or underserved areas.

 

It is important to note that making more money as a paramedic often requires additional training, education, and experience. Paramedics should also consider factors such as their desired work schedule, work-life balance, and job satisfaction when making decisions about their career and compensation. (Open AI Chat Group, n.d., p. 1)

My Question: How can Emergency medical services reinvent themselves?

Chat AI’s answer: Emergency medical services (EMS) can reinvent themselves in several ways to improve the quality of care they provide and increase their value to patients and communities. Here are some ideas:

  1. Embrace technology: EMS can leverage new technologies such as telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and remote monitoring to improve patient care and efficiency. For example, telemedicine can allow paramedics to consult with specialists in real-time while on the scene, and remote monitoring can help EMS providers track patient vitals and intervene earlier when needed.
  2. Focus on community health: EMS can partner with community organizations, public health agencies, and healthcare providers to improve community health and reduce the need for emergency services. For example, EMS providers can work with community health workers to provide preventive care and education, and help patients navigate the healthcare system.
  3. Expand the scope of practice: EMS can expand their scope of practice to include new procedures and interventions that are traditionally performed in the hospital setting. For example, some EMS providers are trained to perform ultrasound, intubation, and advanced airway management.
  4. Adopt a patient-centered approach: EMS can adopt a patient-centered approach to care that focuses on the patient’s needs, preferences, and goals. This can include strategies such as shared decision-making, patient education, and post-discharge follow-up.
  5. Improve workforce development: EMS can invest in workforce development programs that focus on enhancing the skills and competencies of EMS providers. This can include training programs, mentorship, and continuing education opportunities.
  6. Enhance data collection and analysis: EMS can improve their data collection and analysis capabilities to better understand patient needs and outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and measure the impact of interventions.

 

Overall, reinventing EMS requires a willingness to embrace new approaches, adopt a culture of innovation, and prioritize patient needs and outcomes. By doing so, EMS can continue to evolve and provide high-quality care to patients in need. (Open AI Chat Group, n.d., para. 1)

What open AI chat has told me is exactly what I’ve been saying for years in the EMS industry; we need to follow the path of nursing, from doctor’s helpers to a thorough education, rigorous collegiate standards, and to assume more of the health care vacuum that we see in the industry. This vacuum consists of primary care which can be accomplished with community paramedicine, the ability to standardize our educational curriculum so that it mirrors a collegiate level such as nursing, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner, will help us move from the technician level to the technologist level.

 

References

Open AI Chat Group. (n.d.). https://chat.openai.com/chat. https://chat.openai.com/chat. Retrieved April 9, 2023, from https://chat.openai.com/chat

Ortiz, S. (2023, April 7). What is chatgpt and why does it matter? here’s what you need to know. ZDNET. Retrieved April 9, 2023, from https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-chatgpt-and-why-does-it-matter-heres-everything-you-need-to-know/