Health and Emergency Services
Project summary
There are many areas that can be improved for our health care and public safety infrastructure since much of the network relies on a reactive response vs. a proactive response. The simple act of calling 911 is in fact reserved for crisis response, and that simple call (or something similar) is what initiates service. While public safety and healthcare professionals do train on prevention, in practicality, there's still a high level of reactivity, e.g., the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While, to some degree, challenges will always exist for communities, a mindset shift may be required across levels and sectors to help reduce the financial, human, and other losses that leaders may be encountering throughout their communities. Potential areas to look at may include:
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Investments in physical infrastructure, such as better initial building, reliance on more sustainable materials, home sprinkler system installations and other preventative measures, and other necessary modifications.
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Increased social service collaboration, while identifying individuals who are frequent users of the systems with the aim of reducing their frequency of use.
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Improved enforcement of building code violations and more encouragement of locally-owned tenant properties to reduce hazards and provide more accountability.
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Proactive health care services with a direct focus on nutrition and activity.
Project status
This project is still in the beginning stages of development.
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Goals
The goals of this research include working to reduce the total costs for emergency and healthcare services, whether they be financial, human life, or another type of cost. Regardless of the industry or sector, there are significant benefits to shifting towards a proactive response — specifically related to protecting continuity for services across sectors. Additional goals include:
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Reducing costs for preventable incidents in communities.
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Improving the quality of life for the entire community, but especially those who are historically unable to acquire the knowledge and resources that are necessary for survival and success.
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Reducing casualty numbers for responders through full hazard mitigation, with an emphasis on reducing exposure to toxic materials and chemicals that may cause long-term damage to their person.
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Expected Roadblocks
There are many different challenges that this project may encounter, especially given the financial and other incentives that some organizations and stakeholders may have to intervene in the implementation of proactive measures.
Areas that may prove challenging to navigate include:
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Lack of institutional willingness to systemically reduce costs across the board, e.g., physicians being unable to reduce their fees due to exorbitant costs of schooling and insurance.
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Community divisions that prevent trust from being built between community members and service providers.
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Corrupted governments that lack incentives and public pressures to modify behaviors that may be interfering with service delivery.