Determining the emergency medical services innovation needs through a coordination and support action

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Background The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and emergency service sectors are constantly facing new and emerging threats. Looking back to the last couple of years, emergencies faced by Europe and third countries, such as forest fires, flooding, storms, earthquakes, and terrorist attacks, or attacks associated with chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive materials, pose a real challenge for EMS and emergency practitioners. The aim of this study is to present the methods and steps of determining emergency medical services' gaps, challenges, and innovation needs, and to guide future projects in the idea of Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) as a method and practice. Methods This study was based on a mixed-method approach that combines both qualitative and quantitative research. The method mix included an in-depth literature review, detailed surveys, comprehensive workshops, and a collaborative elaboration of case studies with EMS practitioners and managers. Results The literature review undergone for Structuring the EMS Ecosystem and 11 subjects identified and “other” added for possible unclassified subjects. In total, 245 EMS practitioners completed the 57 survey questions. The survey participants were from 15 different countries. According to the findings from these surveys, EMTs across Europe do not demonstrate equal levels of disaster preparedness or access to innovative technologies, which, once implemented, would make their work more effective and save resources. The workshop and case study insights showed that sharing data between all components of the EMS ecosystem, which is essential during everyday work, especially to tackle Mass Casualty Incidents. Conclusion The iProcureSecurity CSA project laid a robust foundation for future advancements in EMS. By addressing the identified gaps and leveraging innovative solutions, the European EMS can become more resilient, efficient, and capable of meeting the challenges posed by both routine and large-scale emergency situations.