Emergency Medicine Today
Emergency care today is defined by using the most expensive form of transportation to access the most expensive form of care. Additionally, research shows that 40% of patients do not require the acute services provided by an emergency department and would be best served at a local clinic or urgent care.
EMS agencies transport roughly 21 million patients to overcrowded emergency departments each year, at an average cost of $3,500 per visit, with over $2,100 spent on transport alone. Yet nearly 40% of those patients are non-emergency cases that could be safely treated outside the ED—and only 39% of them end up admitted to the hospital.
ETHAN offers a smarter way forward. By empowering EMS teams to identify and redirect appropriate patients to lower-cost care settings in real time, ETHAN has the potential to help local systems reduce strain, improve patient flow, and capture part of the $10 billion in potential ED savings nationwide. For local leaders, this isn’t just innovation—it’s a strategic opportunity to modernize emergency care, reduce costs, and improve outcomes at scale.
ETHAN Step-by-Step Patient Flow
- 911 Call Received & EMS Dispatched
A medical emergency is reported, and EMS responds as usual. - On-Scene Patient Assessment by EMS
The EMT or paramedic conducts a standard field assessment to determine the patient’s condition and level of acuity. - Live Video Consultation with ETHAN Physician
If the case is non-emergent, the EMS team initiates a secure video call with an ETHAN Health physician directly from the scene. - Clinical Decision-Making via SYNAPSE Navigation
The ETHAN physician evaluates the patient through telehealth and uses SYNAPSE—a clinical decision support tool—to determine the safest, most appropriate care pathway. - Directed Care & Safe Disposition
Instead of defaulting to an ER transport, patients are guided to the right level of care—whether that’s a clinic, urgent care, telehealth follow-up, or home care—ensuring faster, safer, and more efficient outcomes.
14 years of Transforming Emergency Telemedicine
ETHAN has revolutionized the way emergency medical services operate in Houston. Through the integration of telehealth technology, it has created a more efficient, cost-effective, and patient-centered approach to emergency response. As the program continues to grow, it serves as a model for other cities looking to modernize their EMS systems and improve healthcare delivery.
