How Engineering Improves Emergency Medical Services

Leaders in the healthcare industry are constantly seeking innovative solutions to complex challenges. Industrial engineering, with its focus on optimization and efficiency, offers a unique perspective on improving patient care and operational performance. Dr. Dan Godbee, a medical director with an engineering background, explores this intersection in his work. Dr. Godbee's expertise in both fields provides valuable perspectives on how engineering principles can refine emergency medical services (EMS) and shape the future of healthcare.  

The Intersection of Engineering and Emergency Medicine  

Industrial engineering can transform healthcare systems, especially in fast-paced environments like emergency medical services (EMS). As an engineer and medical director for East Baton Rouge Parish Emergency Medical Services, Godbee sees how these fields interact daily. He says,"[Engineering is] a very logical, algorithmic, straightforward, linear way of thinking, and that actually translates into medicine fairly difficult because medicine is more gestalt; it's this very broad way of looking at a lot of different things, all at the same time." Though difficult, this blend of analytical and holistic thinking is crucial for addressing complex healthcare challenges.  

Engineering Principles in Healthcare  

Dr. Godbee's experience highlights the value of combining engineering principles with medical knowledge. Industrial engineers improve patient outcomes and resource use by applying analytical and problem-solving techniques to healthcare. For instance, in EMS, industrial engineers can optimize ambulance placement, reduce response times, and enhance patient flow. Dr. Godbee recounts, "One of the teams told us not to put a station where we thought we should put a station based on call volume, heat maps, and spawn diagrams, and it turns out that they were absolutely correct… Across the spectrum of prehospital medicine, engineering has a profound impact on helping us make better decisions."  
  
Beyond resource allocation, industrial engineers contribute to improving patient care by strengthening the overall healthcare system. By analyzing patient flow, identifying bottlenecks, and optimizing processes, engineers help reduce wait times and improve patient satisfaction.   
  
Ergonomics, the study of people's efficiency in their working environment and a core engineering principle, can also be applied to reduce injuries among healthcare workers. Dr. Godbee emphasizes the importance of this, saying, "Lifting is a huge deal in less than optimal conditions. We have teams currently looking at areas where we can use analysis of ergonomics and human physiology to help."  

The Role of Engineering and Healthcare Education  

Integrating engineering and healthcare holds immense potential for improving patient outcomes and system efficiency. To fully harness this potential, a skilled workforce is essential. LSU Online & Continuing Education offers online programs to equip students with the knowledge and tools to pursue careers in the field. The online Master of Science in Industrial Engineering provides a comprehensive foundation in engineering principles. In contrast, the online Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Analytics and online Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Systems Engineering offer specialized training for those seeking to focus on the healthcare industry.  

Dr. Godbee encourages students to consider these programs, saying, "For one, being an EMT, working in EMS is a lot of fun…All the fields in healthcare are driven by efficiency, but being in a prehospital environment means we're in a very uncontrolled environment. Being an engineer and trying to do the work more efficiently is part of the fun. You can also have a major impact in someone's life in what might be one of the worst times of their lives."   
  
Online learning offers flexibility and accessibility, allowing students to balance their education with work and life. On online learning, Godbee says, "Give it a shot! Both of the master's degrees I have in engineering can now be done online. You can get some excellent education through online learning, and I've done it many times now…You don't lose a lot of the human interaction you think you might."   

Start Your Journey with LSU Online  

Engineering methodologies can make healthcare systems more efficient, effective, and patient-centered. Dr. Godbee says, "I think the best part for us in the engineering world is bringing engineering (which is very logical, very linear, very modular, analytical) to this chaotic healthcare environment and trying to make it a better place."  
  
As technology advances, the need for innovation at this intersection will only grow. Take advantage of this opportunity! Learn more about the available programs, and apply today.  

• Online Master of Science in Industrial Engineering   
• Online Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Analytics   
• Online Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Systems Engineering   

You can also hear more from Dr. Godbee about why you should join the online Healthcare Analytics certificate program.