The future of EMS is already here — and it’s testing agencies’ ability to adapt. Artificial intelligence, telemedicine, data analytics and new models of care are reshaping prehospital medicine. Yet according to the What Paramedics Want in 2025 report, most providers report that advanced technology integration remains limited, inconsistent and underfunded.
Future readiness isn’t about buying the newest tool; it’s about aligning innovation with mission. EMS agencies that intentionally prepare their people, policies and systems for emerging technology will lead the next phase of out-of-hospital care — safely and sustainably.
On the ground
The What Paramedics Want in 2025 report highlights an industry at the early edge of digital transformation:
- Only 6% of respondents’ agencies are currently using AI tools for clinical care or documentation, and 10% for dispatch or resource management
Operationally,
- Less than 2% of respondents report using drone delivery of AEDs, bleeding control supplies or medications; 14% use whole blood in the field, and 9% utilize pre-hospital ultrasound
- Despite many reporting these complicated patient populations are a big challenge, onlyof respondents 17% have specialized response teams for mental health crises, 9% report have specialized response teams for patients with opioid use disorders and less than 1/3 are connecting patients to recovery services
Providers see the potential — automation for documentation, predictive analytics for dispatch, AI-supported triage, telemedicine integration and connecting patients with advanced resources — but they want assurance that these tools enhance care, not add complexity.
Agencies that successfully merge technology and training are redefining readiness, not just modernizing operations.
Action items
To strengthen future readiness and technology integration:
- Build a technology strategy, not a tech wish list. Identify what problems need solving — documentation time, dispatch accuracy or patient follow-up — and choose tools that fit those goals.
- Train for digital competency. Incorporate training on new technologies into continuing education. Field providers must understand not only how tools work, but also when to rely on them.
- Pilot before you purchase. Test emerging platforms such as AI documentation assistance, telehealth consults and wearable data monitors in small-scale pilots. Collect feedback and adjust workflows before wide adoption.
- Use data to drive readiness. Leverage analytics to identify performance trends, measure fatigue, track training participation and evaluate patient outcomes. Readiness improves when decisions are based on evidence, not instinct.
- Integrate clinical, operational and leadership readiness. Technology touches all three. Future-ready agencies align their tech adoption with training programs, SOP revisions and leadership expectations to maintain cohesion.
- Address cybersecurity and privacy early. Protecting patient data is part of readiness. Ensure IT and command staff are aligned on secure data practices and compliance before systems go live.
- Preserve the human element. Ensure that technology supports — not replaces — clinical judgment, empathy and teamwork. Establish human-in-the-loop oversight for AI-assisted tools to confirm that critical care decisions remain guided by provider expertise and ethical standards.
- Cultivate a culture of innovation. Encourage crews to share ideas, test workflows and challenge assumptions. Future readiness thrives in organizations where curiosity and experimentation are supported, not penalized.
Readiness reflection
Ask these questions to assess your organization’s future readiness:
- Are we adopting technology with a clear operational purpose?
- Do field providers receive hands-on training before implementation?
- Are we using data analytics to improve readiness and patient outcomes?
- How are we managing cybersecurity and information integrity?
- Does our culture reward adaptation and innovation?
Mission Ready: Every responder, every time
Tomorrow’s EMS will demand agility, digital fluency and leadership that embraces change. Join public safety leaders on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, from 1-4:30 p.m. ET, for Lexipol Connect 2025, a virtual conference focused on strengthening total readiness across people, operations and leadership.
Chief (Ret.) Mike Ranalli will be presenting a session, “AI in Public Safety: Embracing the Opportunity, Mitigating the Risk,” unpacking real examples of how AI is already being used (and misused) in agencies, and how leaders can stay ahead of the curve with clear policies and sound judgment.
Register now for Connect 2025 and ensure your agency is mission ready.
EMS1 is using generative AI to create some content that is edited and fact-checked by our editors.
