It's been a year since the prestigious Valle d'Aosta newspaper AostaSera interviewed us, intrigued by the first posts we were publishing on social media. EMSy wasn't born yet and we didn't know the reception it would receive from friends and colleagues.
Now, a month after the launch of the first Beta version of EMSy, we are re-sharing the article written by Matteo Scieghi, journalist from AostaSera.
From the idea of a Valle d'Aosta doctor comes EMSy, artificial intelligence for pre-hospital emergency care
From the idea of doctor Simon Grosjean comes EMSy, an advanced assistant based on artificial intelligence, designed specifically to support emergency doctors and nurses. Its goal is to provide rapid and reliable answers in seconds, transforming the journey to the intervention area into an opportunity to prepare better.
In the last two years, artificial intelligence has become a central theme in the technological debate. While its potential is indisputable, questions often arise about its most concrete and useful applications. Beyond summarizing texts, translating, or generating ideas, AI sometimes risks appearing as a solution in search of a problem, rather than the other way around.
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Yet, there are areas where the integration of artificial intelligence can truly make a difference. One of these is pre-hospital emergency care, a context where every second is precious and decisions must be rapid, based on updated scientific evidence.
The question that Simon Grosjean, territorial emergency doctor and project creator, started with was clear: how to consult guidelines, protocols, or research based on evidence-based medicine (EBM) quickly, accurately, and reliably?
The answer is EMSy (Emergency Medical System), an advanced assistant based on artificial intelligence, designed specifically to support emergency doctors and nurses by providing rapid and reliable answers in seconds, transforming the journey to the intervention area into an opportunity to prepare better. And it is precisely in this critical scenario, the journey to the intervention, that this tool comes into play.
Every day, doctors and nurses operating in the field of pre-hospital emergency care face a well-known reality: time is life and it is not always on their side. When critical decisions must be made in a few minutes, based on the best available evidence from dispatch to arrival on target, the time window to act is reduced. EMSy becomes useful to support the healthcare team in this crucial phase, during the journey, when every piece of information can make a difference.
The operation is simple and immediate: just enter the clinical data or suspected diagnosis and EMSy processes the most up-to-date guidelines, adapting them to the specific case. In a few seconds, the healthcare team receives practical recommendations on medications to consider, protocols to follow, and procedures to perform.
The added value of EMSy? Speed, reliability, and ease of use. Without the need to consult manuals or paper documents, staff can access secure and validated information. The chatbot has been trained on the latest scientific evidence and optimized for use on the move, ensuring users have decision support even in complex operational contexts.
'I come from a family of winegrowers and have always had the desire in my DNA to cultivate and grow something in the best way,' explains Grosjean. 'This spirit is also reflected in my profession as a prehospital emergency physiucian, where the need for constant updating and the difficulty of quickly finding information are daily challenges.
With the advent of artificial intelligence, I saw the potential of these models to provide rapid and contextualized information. Hence the idea of EMSy, a chatbot designed to support pre-hospital emergency healthcare professionals, offering concise answers based on international guidelines and updated scientific literature.
A tool like EMSy proves useful in three fundamental moments. First, during transport, when a quick review of dosages, protocols, and procedures is needed. Secondly, in the post-intervention debriefing phase when case management needs to be analyzed and potential improvements identified. And finally, as a continuous training tool, with quizzes, discussions on clinical cases, and questions to encourage learning even during service breaks.
Unlike other platforms that rely on manual searches or documents, EMSy provides synthetic and contextualized answers, making consultation faster and more effective. Currently, EMSy is in beta and accessible through a platform, but the goal is to develop a native app, making usage even more immediate. 'We hope to publish it soon and constantly update it based on the feedback received,' explains Grosjean.
The initial tests have been very positive, especially among rescuers and ambulance drivers, who find EMSy useful for training and clinical discussion. Furthermore, their initiative is already attracting interest from abroad, with contacts in France, Switzerland, and the United States.
No idea is born and grows in solitude, and the creation of EMSy was also made possible thanks to the contribution of professionals, in this case, friends as well as colleagues, who contributed with their tests, feedback, and suggestions.
Luca Martinelli, a nurse from the Usl, and doctor Damiano Presciani were among the first friends and colleagues of Simon Grosjean to test EMSy in the field, offering their valuable contribution.
"My first impression was extremely positive," says Martinelli. "EMSy is intuitive and immediate to use, it provides rapid suggestions based on updated protocols, and this is a huge advantage. I believe it can be particularly useful in simulations and in preparing for an intervention, especially for less experienced nurses or those in training. To be truly effective in the field, it is essential that it remains simple and reliable, based on validated and constantly updated data and protocols."
Presciani, a doctor and mountain emergency medicine enthusiast, also found EMSy to be a valuable ally: "EMSy integrates various mountain medicine protocols, both international and Italian, such as the guidelines of the Italian Alpine and Speleological Rescue. This makes it useful even in the most complex contexts. For example, before heading out for an intervention, I can get suggestions on what to put in the rescue backpack, to make sure I've thought of everything. In the mountains, time and logistics are critical factors, and EMSy can provide intervention strategies for traumas, hypothermia, or altitude sickness, adapting to environmental conditions. It would be interesting to see how it could find application in the Valle d'Aosta helicopter rescue service."
A tool like EMSy is not designed to replace healthcare professionals, but to enhance their decision-making capabilities. As Presciani explains, "the doctor did not disappear with the advent of the PC or the internet; on the contrary, they had to learn to use these innovations that have enormously improved medicine. Now we are experiencing the entry of artificial intelligence into our work. With EMSy, I feel I can better assist people, both in emergency vehicles and in the rescue control center. It is a powerful arrow in our quiver, but people will always seek qualities like empathy, human contact, and communication in a doctor."
Martinelli also emphasizes that technology will play an increasingly central role: "Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and wearable devices can improve communication between teams and reduce the risk of errors. However, the experience and clinical judgment of operators will remain irreplaceable."
For its creator, Simon Grosjean, "artificial intelligence will never replace the human mind, but it can amplify its ability to imagine, design, and find solutions. EMSy is a tool that stimulates intuition and reasoning, helping healthcare professionals to continuously improve their approach to territorial emergencies. Regarding continuous training, I would like to thank the Usl Company, especially Luca Cavoretto, who supported us and, although not directly involved in the project, allowed me and my team to carry it forward in our free time."
Their ambitious project, born from passion and field experience, has the potential to transform the way emergency professionals prepare, operate, and interact. Although it is just born, it has the potential to become a useful tool to improve the quality of care and prove useful in saving lives.
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