Integration of Radiology Technology, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology, Respiratory Therapy, and Emergency Medical Services in Multidisciplinary Emergency and Critical Care: A Systematic Review of Patient Safety, Clinical Outcomes, and Healthcare Delivery
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Background: Emergency and critical care depend on coordination between clinical teams, diagnostic services, psychological support, and healthcare technology. Integration takes different forms across trauma, respiratory failure, stroke, and cardiac arrest. This review examined patient safety, clinical outcomes, and healthcare delivery within these connected pathways. Methods: Comparative studies published through Jan 2026 were examined using a component-based framework. Interventions were grouped by imaging, respiratory care, psychological support, technology-supported monitoring, and prehospital treatment. Clinical heterogeneity supported structured narrative synthesis rather than pooled estimation. Results: Ten original studies addressed five randomized and five nonrandomized comparisons. Protocolized respiratory assessment reduced median ventilation duration from six to 4.5 days, while coordinated awakening and breathing trials increased days breathing without assistance. Hybrid trauma care was associated with lower adjusted mortality, whereas immediate total-body computed tomography produced no mortality difference. Psychological findings differed between specialist support and a nurse-led preventive intervention. Tele-intensive care implementation was associated with lower adjusted hospital mortality, and a Riyadh multidisciplinary program reduced ventilator-associated event rates without a significant mortality difference. Mobile stroke units accelerated thrombolysis and improved functional outcomes, while mechanical chest compression did not improve survival. Conclusion: Coordinated pathways improved selected processes and outcomes, with substantial variation across interventions. Technology effects and individual professional contributions remained difficult to separate. A combined five-profession model was not directly evaluated in these studies. Keywords: Multidisciplinary care; emergency medicine; critical care; radiology technology; biomedical engineering.
Language: English
Subfield: Emergency Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7221529972