What if we could deliver advanced hospital-level care to every rural county in America? That's the question thatPARADIGMset out to answer.
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The Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed and InteGrated Medical Care (PARADIGM) program aims to improve rural health by creating a scalable vehicle platform that can provide advanced medical services outside of a hospital setting. This new mobile care platform will allow healthcare providers to meet rural patients where they are, leveraging technological advancements in satellite communication and medical device miniaturization.
PARADIGM is led byAdvanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H),an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Massachusetts General Hospital numbers among the PARADIGM awardees contributing to the mobile care platform, adding interoperable medical devices and ensuring security and scalability across care settings.
ECRI, a global healthcare safety nonprofit, is working with Massachusetts General Hospital onthisgroundbreakinginitiative to design and deploy mobilemedical vehiclesto bring advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities to underserved areas.
The PARADIGM team will createa multi-functional, rugged electric vehicle platform capable ofprovidingcutting-edgeservices,including multi-cancer screenings, perinatal care and hemodialysis.
“Selecting the right medical devices for this innovative care environment is crucial for delivering safe, advanced care and ensuring secure, seamless data sharing,”said Julian M. Goldman, MD, Principal Investigator of the Massachusetts General Hospital team developing a Medical Internet-of-Things (MIoT) platform for PARADIGM.
ECRI is supporting the Massachusetts General Hospital on theselectionof medical devicesfor themobile medicalunit being designed by the PARADIGM technical and clinical partners, focusing onessentialtechnologies such as vital sign monitors, ultrasound systems, point of care lab testing, and many others.
Drawing on its expertiseevaluating the safety and efficacy of healthcaretechnologies andthe safe integration of tech in clinical environments,ECRIwill adviseonwhich medicaldevicesto integrate,factoring insecurity,safety, interoperability, and capabilities in remote environmentsto ensurethe platform is built on adigital ecosystem that allows medical devices, software,and clinical systems to work seamlessly together outside of the hospital setting.
This framework could serve as a scalable model for future mobile healthcare delivery systems, enabling rapid deployment of specialized services in remote areas.
“As rural hospitals continue toreduce services or closeat an alarming rate, this project represents a novel approach tobringingcare where it's most needed,” said Scott Lucas, PhD, vice president of devicesafety at ECRI.”As we integratecybersecurity and real-time data exchangecapabilitiesinto the foundation of thesemobile care platforms, we can ensure theyareas safe and secure as the best hospitals in the nation.”
“When rural healthcare is under threat, our efforts to improve access to care must grow stronger,” said Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, President and CEO at ECRI. “Every patient, no matter their zip code, deserves safe, high-quality care close to home. Every mile we bridge between patients and healthcare providers saves lives and strengthens communities. We're proud to play a part in this innovative program.”
About ECRI
ECRI is an independent, nonprofit organization improving the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care across all healthcare settings. With a focus on technology evaluation and safety, ECRI is respected and trusted by healthcare leaders and agencies worldwide. For more than fifty-five years, ECRI has built its reputation on integrity and disciplined rigor, with an unwavering commitment to independence and strict conflict-of-interest rules. ECRI is the only organization worldwide to conduct independent medical device evaluations, with labslocatedin North America and Asia Pacific. ECRI isdesignatedan Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.ECRIacquiredThe Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) in 2020 to address one of the most prolific causes of preventable harm in healthcare, medication errors; thenacquiredThe Just Culture Company in 2024 to transform healthcare workplace cultures – thus creating one of the largest healthcare quality and safety entities in the world. Visitecri.org to learn more.
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