Artificial Intelligence Decision Support Systems in Resource-Limited Environments to Save Lives and Reduce Moral...

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Disaster Medicine
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Future large-scale combat operations and mass casualty incidents (MCIs) will create resource-limited environments, challenging medical responders.
• High casualty volumes and disrupted medical evacuations exacerbate the risk of exhaustion, burnout, and moral injury among healthcare providers.
• Moral injury is a persistent condition with wide-ranging negative impacts, distinct from burnout, and was observed to correlate with provider disengagement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of Artificial Intelligence Decision Support Systems (AIDeSS) to mitigate moral injury in healthcare providers.
• To advocate for research at the intersection of high-stress, resource-limited care and AIDeSS.
• To identify strategies for reducing psychological distress in medical responders and improving patient survival rates.

Main Methods:

• This study is a conceptual and advocacy-based research paper.
• It reviews existing literature on medical provider stress, moral injury, and the role of technology in healthcare.
• It proposes AIDeSS as a potential solution for expertise gaps and decision support in critical care scenarios.

Main Results:

• Telemedicine and telementoring have shown promise in reducing provider stress and improving confidence.
• AIDeSS are positioned as a potential next-generation clinical decision support tool.
• The study highlights the urgent need for research into AIDeSS's efficacy in preventing moral injury.

Conclusions:

• AIDeSS may offer a scalable solution to support medical responders in high-stress, resource-limited environments.
• Further research is crucial to understand how AIDeSS can reduce moral injury and improve outcomes in mass casualty and combat settings.
• Implementing AIDeSS could enhance patient survival and the resilience of healthcare systems facing unprecedented challenges.