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16.06.2025
Investments in technology
Tackling Healthcare Challenges Through Technologies: Example of State Budgetary Healthcare Institution ‘Lugansk Republican Centre of Emergency and Disaster Medicine’
State Budgetary Healthcare Institution ‘Lugansk Republican Centre of Emergency and Disaster Medicine’ (an emergency healthcare institution, which is a state emergency service subordinate to the Ministry of Healthcare of the Lugansk Peo ple’s Republic.
The structure includes the Centre and its 8 subsidiaries, encompassing 38 substations and 30 posts. The Centre’s operations cover the whole geography of the Lugansk People’s Republic.
The IT infrastructure is supported by the Automated Control Systems (ACS) Department, servicing the emergency medicine automated control system (EM ACS). It is a complex of software and hardware optimizing emergency medicine operations. The ACS Department also services the Centre’s computer fleet, com prising over 240 PC’s and over 150 auxiliary appliances used at the work stations of the data processing centre associates, its administrative staff, the staff of its subsidiaries and telemedicine services.
The main and key IT project implemented today at the Lugansk Republican Centre of Emergency and Disaster Medicine is the modernization of its EM ACS. It is a large-scale initiative impacting all the aspects of emergency medicine operations.
The EM ACS is being upgraded in order to enhance the effectiveness and qual ity of emergency medical services by optimizing all its processes, from response to calls to patient admission.
The project aims to shorten the response time, increase the quality of medi cal assistance, optimize the use of resources, make the service’s operations more transparent and improve its interactions with other services, facilitate the work of the dispatchers and emergency response teams, and enhance the patient experience.
The analysing of the current situation showed the need for a complete upgrade of the Lugansk ER’s “Dispetcherskaya 103” automated control system due to its complete technical and conceptual obsolescence. This system was produced by the Kharkov company Escape back in 2009. Terms of reference were prepared based on this analysis, with the key tasks of bringing the Lugansk emergency medicine automated control system up to the modern national standards of Russia, including the functionality of sending ER team reports via tablets, supporting statistical data collection and generation of reports using model federal forms; reducing the time to get to a patient; and considerably saving fuel through integration with the Glonass satellite system and automated routing.
We also needed to ensure interoperability of the EM ACS platform (1С: Enter prise) and post-warranty servicing of the EM ACS by the ACS department staff.
Based on a market study, we selected the supplier of the EM ACS.
The ACS Department designed a workstation diagram for the equipment pur chased for the project and prepared a schedule of training for the Data Processing Centre staff, approved by the EM ACS supplier. The system has now been implemented in Lugansk and operated in pilot mode. It is being fine-tuned, and we have a plan of integrating the EM ACS of all the Republican substations.
Our future objectives are:
• technical support and service of the system following its commissioning, troubleshooting, software updates;
• follow-up analysis of the upgrade results and indicators, identifying resid ual issues, and planning further development of the system.
An important aspect of EM ACS modernization is its integration with other information systems, such as regional medical IS, systems of the Ministry of Emergencies and the police, GIS, etc. This ensures effective information exchange and operational coordination of different services in emergency response.
The project has been faced with a number of objective issues, including dif ficulties with keeping the maps updated due to the impact of the Special Military Operation on the cross-border regions; the challenge of keeping traffic data updated; and having to integrate with outdated EM ACS systems. In order to mit igate their impact, it is recommended to use real-time navigation service data, update the maps and infrastructure data regularly, and use mobile GIS apps for ER teams. GIS data analysis is also necessary to optimize the ER substations’ location.
The project is further complicated by the need to use the client-server soft ware of the Kharkov Escape company, made in 2009, for the Lugansk ER EM ACS. Dispetcherskaya 103 (server type) is located on a database server run with Win dows Server 2005, while its client is run with Windows XP or Windows 7. There is no technical support or updates.
Another difficulty lies in the use of physically and technologically obsolete f leet of computers and office equipment. The automated workstations dating back to 2010 and older need to be upgraded, at the very least.
We have formulated proposals on new information technologies, including an AI-based medical decision-making system. The system would analyse structured or unstructured patient data (com plaints, personal history, examination results, wearable device data, electronic medical records, and x-rays), generate a list of potential diagnoses with probability indicators, and provide treatment suggestions based on clinical recommendations, knowledge databases, and Big Data analysis. The system may be deployed locally or in a cloud, ensuring its scalability and resilience.
The system would help ER staff, especially young professionals, diagnose quicker and more accurately in complicated cases, reducing the rate of medical errors, and help sel ect the optimal treatment, which is especially relevant for ER teams’ time shortage and high workload.
Another proposal concerning new information technologies is using a system of patient monitoring with wearable devices. The system uses an IoT platform to collect data fr om patient wearable devices (smart watches, fitness trackers, or medical sensors) and transmit them wirelessly to a secure server for processing and analysis in real time. The system uses machine learning algorithms to identify anomalies and warn of potential health issues. Web interfaces and mobile devices are used for data visualization and sending warnings to medical staff. The system can be integrated with the EM ACS, allowing for auto mated call ticket generation when necessary. Encryption and multi-factor authentication technologies are used for data protection.
The system would support timely detection of deterioration of a patient’s condition and allow to address them, preventing complications and late admissions. This would enhance the effectiveness of preventive and treatment measures for chronic diseases and reduce the ER workload.
Another proposal is to introduce VR technologies for training ER staff and modelling emergencies. A VR system, with a helmet, movement sensors and special software, can create an immersive environment. 3D modeling and gamification can be used to create realistic scenarios and interactive settings. The system would track the user’s activity, providing feedback and assessment of their effectiveness. Training data could be stored in a database and used for analysis and customiza tion of trainings. The system can be integrated with a remote learning platform for process management. For a more realistic experience, tactile feedback could be used.
As we have seen, our ER IT infrastructure has a potential for effective work through highly-skilled professionals and implemented systems, but the tight budget and understaffing create considerable impediments for its development. To improve performance, we need to focus on optimizing the existing resources, finding low-cost IT solutions, and building our human resource capacity. A special focus should be made on cybersecurity, since budget-funded organizations are an easy target for cyberattacks.
State Budgetary Healthcare Institution ‘Lugansk Republican Centre of Emergency and Disaster Medicine’ (an emergency healthcare institution, which is a state emergency service subordinate to the Ministry of Healthcare of the Lugansk Peo ple’s Republic.
The structure includes the Centre and its 8 subsidiaries, encompassing 38 substations and 30 posts. The Centre’s operations cover the whole geography of the Lugansk People’s Republic.
The IT infrastructure is supported by the Automated Control Systems (ACS) Department, servicing the emergency medicine automated control system (EM ACS). It is a complex of software and hardware optimizing emergency medicine operations. The ACS Department also services the Centre’s computer fleet, com prising over 240 PC’s and over 150 auxiliary appliances used at the work stations of the data processing centre associates, its administrative staff, the staff of its subsidiaries and telemedicine services.
The main and key IT project implemented today at the Lugansk Republican Centre of Emergency and Disaster Medicine is the modernization of its EM ACS. It is a large-scale initiative impacting all the aspects of emergency medicine operations.
The EM ACS is being upgraded in order to enhance the effectiveness and qual ity of emergency medical services by optimizing all its processes, from response to calls to patient admission.
The project aims to shorten the response time, increase the quality of medi cal assistance, optimize the use of resources, make the service’s operations more transparent and improve its interactions with other services, facilitate the work of the dispatchers and emergency response teams, and enhance the patient experience.
The analysing of the current situation showed the need for a complete upgrade of the Lugansk ER’s “Dispetcherskaya 103” automated control system due to its complete technical and conceptual obsolescence. This system was produced by the Kharkov company Escape back in 2009. Terms of reference were prepared based on this analysis, with the key tasks of bringing the Lugansk emergency medicine automated control system up to the modern national standards of Russia, including the functionality of sending ER team reports via tablets, supporting statistical data collection and generation of reports using model federal forms; reducing the time to get to a patient; and considerably saving fuel through integration with the Glonass satellite system and automated routing.
We also needed to ensure interoperability of the EM ACS platform (1С: Enter prise) and post-warranty servicing of the EM ACS by the ACS department staff.
Based on a market study, we selected the supplier of the EM ACS.
The ACS Department designed a workstation diagram for the equipment pur chased for the project and prepared a schedule of training for the Data Processing Centre staff, approved by the EM ACS supplier. The system has now been implemented in Lugansk and operated in pilot mode. It is being fine-tuned, and we have a plan of integrating the EM ACS of all the Republican substations.
Our future objectives are:
• technical support and service of the system following its commissioning, troubleshooting, software updates;
• follow-up analysis of the upgrade results and indicators, identifying resid ual issues, and planning further development of the system.
An important aspect of EM ACS modernization is its integration with other information systems, such as regional medical IS, systems of the Ministry of Emergencies and the police, GIS, etc. This ensures effective information exchange and operational coordination of different services in emergency response.
The project has been faced with a number of objective issues, including dif ficulties with keeping the maps updated due to the impact of the Special Military Operation on the cross-border regions; the challenge of keeping traffic data updated; and having to integrate with outdated EM ACS systems. In order to mit igate their impact, it is recommended to use real-time navigation service data, update the maps and infrastructure data regularly, and use mobile GIS apps for ER teams. GIS data analysis is also necessary to optimize the ER substations’ location.
The project is further complicated by the need to use the client-server soft ware of the Kharkov Escape company, made in 2009, for the Lugansk ER EM ACS. Dispetcherskaya 103 (server type) is located on a database server run with Win dows Server 2005, while its client is run with Windows XP or Windows 7. There is no technical support or updates.
Another difficulty lies in the use of physically and technologically obsolete f leet of computers and office equipment. The automated workstations dating back to 2010 and older need to be upgraded, at the very least.
We have formulated proposals on new information technologies, including an AI-based medical decision-making system. The system would analyse structured or unstructured patient data (com plaints, personal history, examination results, wearable device data, electronic medical records, and x-rays), generate a list of potential diagnoses with probability indicators, and provide treatment suggestions based on clinical recommendations, knowledge databases, and Big Data analysis. The system may be deployed locally or in a cloud, ensuring its scalability and resilience.
The system would help ER staff, especially young professionals, diagnose quicker and more accurately in complicated cases, reducing the rate of medical errors, and help sel ect the optimal treatment, which is especially relevant for ER teams’ time shortage and high workload.
Another proposal concerning new information technologies is using a system of patient monitoring with wearable devices. The system uses an IoT platform to collect data fr om patient wearable devices (smart watches, fitness trackers, or medical sensors) and transmit them wirelessly to a secure server for processing and analysis in real time. The system uses machine learning algorithms to identify anomalies and warn of potential health issues. Web interfaces and mobile devices are used for data visualization and sending warnings to medical staff. The system can be integrated with the EM ACS, allowing for auto mated call ticket generation when necessary. Encryption and multi-factor authentication technologies are used for data protection.
The system would support timely detection of deterioration of a patient’s condition and allow to address them, preventing complications and late admissions. This would enhance the effectiveness of preventive and treatment measures for chronic diseases and reduce the ER workload.
Another proposal is to introduce VR technologies for training ER staff and modelling emergencies. A VR system, with a helmet, movement sensors and special software, can create an immersive environment. 3D modeling and gamification can be used to create realistic scenarios and interactive settings. The system would track the user’s activity, providing feedback and assessment of their effectiveness. Training data could be stored in a database and used for analysis and customiza tion of trainings. The system can be integrated with a remote learning platform for process management. For a more realistic experience, tactile feedback could be used.
As we have seen, our ER IT infrastructure has a potential for effective work through highly-skilled professionals and implemented systems, but the tight budget and understaffing create considerable impediments for its development. To improve performance, we need to focus on optimizing the existing resources, finding low-cost IT solutions, and building our human resource capacity. A special focus should be made on cybersecurity, since budget-funded organizations are an easy target for cyberattacks.
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