Taipei City Construction Management Office

The International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) arranged for two policy-level officials, including Dr. Destéfano, from the "Paraguay Medical Information Management Efficiency Improvement Project (Phase III)" to visit the Taipei City Government Fire Department. The visit took place on October 14, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with the aim of drawing upon the Fire Department's extensive experience in the planning, supervision, and management of pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS). A key focus was the utilization of digital technology to connect pre-hospital and post-hospital data.

The Fire Department noted that it has actively adopted digital technology in recent years to continuously enhance the quality and efficiency of its EMS operations.

• As early as 2016, the department pioneered the nationwide introduction of Electronic Patient Care Records (ePCR). This system digitally records complete patient data and treatment procedures, allowing for the immediate upload, analysis, and integration of EMS information.

• In 2024, the "Integrated Critical Care System" was established. This system connects crucial pre-hospital and post-hospital databases, covering critical areas such as pre-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), acute stroke, acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and severe trauma. The data analysis derived from this system serves as an important basis for EMS quality management. The Fire Department further highlighted that during the exchange, they shared details regarding the AI-Assisted Electrocardiogram (ECG) Interpretation System. This system was successfully implemented in July 2025 and is certified by the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

After EMS personnel upload the 12-lead ECG via the Integrated Critical Care System App, the system can determine whether the patient has acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in as fast as 25 seconds.Significantly, the positive predictive value (PPV) of this system has increased to 71.2%. Looking ahead, the Fire Department also plans to introduce handheld ultrasound devices. This equipment will facilitate the on-site determination of whether severe trauma patients have internal bleeding, thereby further strengthening pre-hospital medical decision-making.

The Fire Department emphasized its hope that this in-depth exchange will enable the Paraguayan Ministry of Health and Welfare officials to fully understand Taipei City's successful experience in the application of digital technology for EMS. This knowledge is intended to serve as an important reference for Paraguay as it formulates relevant policies and regulations.

Moving forward, the Fire Department remains committed to the spirit of innovation, utilizing the power of "smart connection" through technology to promote the development of smart healthcare. The department is pleased to continue sharing its valuable achievements with international allies.