Pilot evaluation of smart glasses for communication workflow and task performance in prehospital care.
International journal of medical informatics · 2026-06-26 · Randomised trial
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Communication between emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians and online medical control (OLMC) physicians is essential for effective prehospital decision-making but is currently limited by verbal-only tools (e.g., phone or radio). OBJECTIVE: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the impact of smart glasses on EMS-OLMC communication, workflow, and clinical task performance. METHODS: We conducted a pilot randomized crossover trial with 16 simulated EMS sessions across two agencies in the United States. EMS clinicians managed two scenarios using either smart glasses or standard communication (radio/phone) to consult with OLMC physicians. Task completeness and physician prompts were independently assessed by paired paramedic and physician reviewers using a standardized checklist, and both simulation and teleconsultation durations were analyzed to evaluate workflow impact. RESULTS: Smart glasses affected both workflow and clinical performance. Workflow analysis showed significantly longer simulation and teleconsultation durations when smart glasses were used compared with phone sessions (p < 0.05). Clinically, smart glasses yielded higher completion rates for physician-prompted critical tasks (96.0%) compared with radio/.48%, p < 0.05) and were associated with more physician prompts overall (2.1 vs. 1.6 per session). CONCLUSION: Smart glasses have the potential to enhance EMS-OLMC communication and improve completion of physician-guided critical tasks, though these benefits come with longer interactions. These findings highlight important workflow considerations for integrating smart glasses into EMS practice.
Tags
Communication & handover · Paramedics & EMTs · Prehospital physicians · Teamwork & human factors