WILLOW GROVE, PA — A federal research initiative is aiming to redefine how medical care reaches rural communities, proposing a new model that delivers hospital-level services directly to patients far from traditional clinical settings. The Platform Accelerating Rural Access to Distributed and InteGrated Medical Care, known as PARADIGM, seeks to build a scalable electric vehicle platform capable of supporting advanced diagnostics and treatment outside the walls of a hospital.
The program is led by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Massachusetts General Hospital is among the program’s awardees, contributing work on interoperable medical devices and the security infrastructure necessary to support care delivery across diverse environments.
ECRI, a nonprofit focused on healthcare safety, is collaborating with Massachusetts General Hospital to design and deploy the mobile care vehicles. The technology will incorporate a range of advanced capabilities, including multi-cancer screenings, perinatal care, and hemodialysis, made possible through developments in satellite communication and medical device miniaturization.
Julian M. Goldman, MD, principal investigator for the Massachusetts General Hospital team, said that selecting the proper devices is essential to ensuring safety, performance, and reliable data exchange within the Medical Internet-of-Things platform supporting PARADIGM. ECRI is evaluating a broad set of technologies—from vital sign monitors to point-of-care laboratory systems—to determine what can operate securely and effectively in remote environments.
The broader goal is to create a digital ecosystem where medical devices, software, and clinical systems function cohesively, enabling high-quality care in locations far removed from major health facilities. Program leaders hope the model will offer a blueprint for future mobile healthcare systems, particularly as rural hospitals continue to downsize or close.
Scott Lucas, PhD, vice president of device safety at ECRI, described the effort as a timely response to mounting challenges facing rural healthcare providers. Marcus Schabacker, MD, PhD, president and CEO of ECRI, added that improving access to reliable, high-quality care remains vital to the well-being of rural communities.
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