Dr. MacQuarrie is a paramedic, educator and researcher with over 30 years of experience. As Principal of Edge Human Performance Group, he leads efforts to enhance human performance through research and education. His research has contributed to understanding how health influences job performance. Recent work examines wearable physiological monitoring technologies.
Measuring Up: A scan of how remote monitoring technologies can change the community paramedicine landscape
Dr Alex (Sandy) MacQuarrie1
1THE EDGE HUMAN PERFORMANCE GROUP, Gold Coast, Australia
Abstract
Community Paramedic care can take place even when the paramedic is not present in the patient’s home. Attention is growing in the ability to obtain patient information for example physiological monitoring. Remote physiological monitoring may take many forms, from continuous measurement and reporting of heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, blood oxygenation, to name a few. Of particular interest are the rapid advancements in the reliability and validity of these monitoring technologies. But questions remain as to how to best integrate them into Community Paramedicine programs. What do we do with the data? How do we get it from our patient into the hands of those who need it in a timely fashion? What is on the market now and what is coming in terms of technology? And most importantly, how does our patient feel about all of this “tech” in their home.