Some operators answering calls to 000, Australia’s national emergency number, will soon have AI technology helping them identify signs of cardiac arrest over the phone.
The new Artificial Intelligence in Cardiac Arrest project has received $1.36 million in funding from the government of Victoria, meaning that all Emergency Services Telecommunications Authority (ESTA) operators from that state will have the technology at their disposal.
The AI system will run in the background as operators answer calls. When it detects key words or certain speech patterns, it will alert the ESTA employee to “dispatch a high-priority ambulance and talk bystanders through CPR or defibrillation.”
“We are always looking for new, cutting edge ways to innovate and deliver the very best and safest care—because all Victorians deserve access to world class treatment when they need it most, no matter where they live,” Jenny Mikakos, Victoria’s minister for health and minister for ambulance services, said in a prepared statement. “In a cardiac arrest, every second counts. Cutting edge artificial intelligence will help paramedics get to the scene of a cardiac arrest faster––reducing the chance of brain damage and giving them a greater chance of surviving.”
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.