Panacea's Glass: Mobile Cloud Framework for Communication in Mass Casualty Disaster Triage

Abstract

When working with critical-care patients, doctors and nurses need a hands-free way to stay updated on the current status of incoming patients and their needed-care levels. This need to stay updated on new patients is even more critical in a natural disaster scenario where a large volume of patients with varying states of injuries need to be treated by a limited medical staff. Using Google Glass, we can open up new possibilities for mobile healthcare communication allowing for cloud-based coordination with other medical personnel even in a disaster scenario. In this paper, we present our 'Panacea Glass', a mobile cloud framework that allows triage personnel who require hands free communication capabilities along with situational-awareness of patient care coverage. We implement this framework within a WebRTC-based 'Responder Theater Application' with features such as video chat application on Google Glass devices, and use of virtual beacon tracking devices. Lastly, we show experiments conducted in determining optimal settings of the application, as well as its utility within an actual 'Lake Simulation'.