A clinical decision support system for Earth-independent medical operations

Written by Copernical Team Wednesday, 17 April 2024 16:12

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A clinical decision support system for earth-independent medical operations

These support personnel include physicians (with an array of subspecialty expertise), nurses, and engineers (responsible for addressing life support capabilities). The FS communicates directly to a crew medical officer (CMO) onboard the ISS. Credit: npj Microgravity (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00284-1" width="800" height="430"/>

Current paradigm for astronaut health care in space. a At the NASA International Space Station (ISS) mission control center (MCC) in Houston, TX, the Flight Surgeon (FS) has a dedicated console position labeled SURGEON. Sitting to his left is the biomedical engineer (BME) flight controller. There is often a second medical doctor on console during safety critical operations. Source. JSC2012-E054285 (25 May 2012), Photo credit: NASA. b The FS is supported by numerous personnel assigned to provide backup depending on the medical issue. These support personnel include physicians (with an array of subspecialty expertise), nurses, and engineers (responsible for addressing life support capabilities). The FS communicates directly to a crew medical officer (CMO) onboard the ISS. Credit: npj Microgravity (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00284-1

Deep space exploration requires a paradigm shift in astronaut medical support toward Earth-independent medical operations. Currently, astronauts rely on real-time communication with ground-based medical providers. However, as the distance from Earth increases, so do communication delays and disruptions. Deep space exploration crews will need to autonomously detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent medical conditions.

One potential solution is to augment the long duration exploration crew's knowledge, skills, and abilities with a digital clinical decision support system, or CDSS. The Exploration Medical Capability (ExMC) element of NASA's Human Research Program is investigating the feasibility and value of advanced capabilities to promote and enhance EIMO.

The ExMC research team has produced a CDSS concept in which medical data would be continuously gathered, through both passive and active monitoring, and delivers real-time guidance. This helps improve patient outcomes and reduce the workload of health maintenance. The work is published in the journal npj Microgravity.

The assistive technology of ExMC's envisioned CDSS stands to significantly enhance a crew's medical capability. Private applications for this approach are currently being considered by commercial space flight programs, a timely example of how ARC Space Biosciences research benefits the entire space sector.

More information: Brian K. Russell et al, The value of a spaceflight clinical decision support system for earth-independent medical operations, npj Microgravity (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00284-1

Journal information:npj Microgravity

Provided by NASA

Citation: A clinical decision support system for Earth-independent medical operations (2024, April 17) retrieved 17 April 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2024-04-clinical-decision-earth-independent-medical.html

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