Emergency medical services confront significant challenges in delivering timely patient assessments within geographically isolated or disaster-impacted regions. While drones (unmanned aircraft systems, UAS) show transformative potential in healthcare, standardized protocols for drone-assisted patient evaluations remain underdeveloped. This study introduces the ABCD-IN-BARS protocol, a 9-step telemedicine checklist integrating patient-assisted maneuvers and drone technology to systematize remote emergency assessments. A wait-list randomized controlled trial with 68 first-aid-trained volunteers evaluated the protocol’s feasibility. Participants underwent web-based modules and in-person simulations and were randomized into immediate training or waitlist control groups. The ABCD-IN-BARS protocol was developed via a content validity approach, incorporating expert-rated items from the telemedicine literature. Outcomes included time-to-assessment, provider confidence (Modified Cooper–Harper Scale), measured at baseline, post-training, and 3-month follow-up. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Most of the participants can complete the assessment with a cue card within 4 min. A mixed-design repeated measures ANOVA assessed the effects of Time (baseline, post-test, 3-month follow-up within subject) on assessment durations. Assessment times improved significantly over three time points (p = 0.008), improving with standardized protocols, while patterns were similar across groups (p = 0.101), reflecting skill retention at 3 months and not affected by injury or not. Protocol adherence in simulated injury identification increased from 63.3% pre-training to 100% post-training. Provider confidence remained high (MCH scores: 2.4–2.7/10), and Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) ratings emphasized strong Perceived Usefulness (PU2: M = 4.48) despite moderate ease-of-use challenges (EU2: M = 4.03). Qualitative feedback highlighted workflow benefits but noted challenges in drone maneuvering. The ABCD-IN-BARS protocol effectively standardizes drone-assisted emergency assessments, demonstrating retained proficiency and high usability. While sensory limitations persist, its modular design and alignment with ABCDE principles offer a scalable solution for prehospital care in underserved regions. Further multicenter validation is needed to generalize findings.

Background: Motorsport events necessitate medical services from first aid to intensive care due to high‐velocity impacts and fire hazards. Urban circuits pose unique logistical challenges. We report the adaptations, operational experience and lessons learnt from four international Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA)‐tier motorsport events in Hong Kong. Methods: This mixed‐methods observational study used the Data Reporting, Evaluation, and Analysis for Mass‐Gathering Medicine Model, analysing medical usage rates, stakeholder interviews and protocol observations. Data from anonymised patient records and debrief notes were descriptively analysed. Key stakeholders, including the Chief Medical Officer and FIA delegates, were interviewed. Results: Between 2017 and 2023, Hong Kong hosted four FIA‐level events on temporary street circuits. Planning evolved from reactive, ad hoc collaborations to proactive, simulation‐driven multi‐agency strategies. Service provision improved with more advanced life support, refined medical roles, and structured communication. Across the events, 87% of presentations were minor. Patient presentation rates ranged 0.416–0.83 per 1000 attendees, and no competitors required hospital transfer from on‐track crashes, highlighting the high‐acuity, low‐occurrence nature of incidents. Key measures included a Unified Communication Channel, a Joint Agency Command Centre, and specialized extrication training. These measures enhanced situational awareness and streamlined resource allocation, providing effective for managing complex motorsport events in urban setting. Conclusions: Medical preparedness for urban circuits requires clear command, centralised communication, risk‐based resource allocation, and targeted training. The Hong Kong experience offers transferable strategies for infrequent, high‐profile city events. Prospective, comparative studies across global events are recommended to further improve practices and ensure safety for all participants.

This qualitative study explored the development of an innovative simulation training program designed to bolster the preparedness and resilience of healthcare teams during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus groups with interprofessional clinicians illuminated key educational priorities, revealing a need for enhanced safety protocols, clear in communication, and targeted training to address knowledge gaps specific to the novel coronavirus. Recognizing the profound emotional toll of the pandemic, the program also emphasized cultivating compassion and fostering emotional resilience alongside the essential clinical skills. By immersing participants in realistic, evolving scenarios that were reflective of the dynamic COVID-19 landscape, the simulations offered a safe space to rehearse critical skills, practice crisis resource management, and build confidence in navigating the complexities of pandemic care. This tailored approach aimed to empower healthcare teams not only with enhanced knowledge and expertise but also with the emotional fortitude and resilience necessary to provide optimal patient care while safeguarding their own well-being throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The findings highlight the profound potential of simulation-based training to strengthen both individual and systemic resilience within healthcare systems facing the enduring strain of this global health crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed healthcare education, increasing the shift to digital tools and establishing a hybrid curriculum blending online learning with traditional clinical practice. This study aims to understand how this shift impacts the educational growth and skill building of nursing students. A qualitative approach was conducted to understand the experience of Hong Kong nursing students adapting to online learning during the pandemic and beyond. Fifty nursing students were interviewed, and Colaizzi’s phenomenological method revealed key themes in their learning narratives. The analysis revealed four distinct themes characterizing the students’ experiences: (i) Learning on their terms: the mandated shift in healthcare reflecting a lack of agency during the educational transition; (ii) Knowledge without touch: the perceived incompetence of the COVID-19 nursing cohort, highlighting anxieties regarding a lack of hands-on clinical proficiency; (iii) Words left unsaid: The weight of insecurity, indicating a decline in interpersonal skills due to isolation; and (iv) Beyond the perfect algorithm: the unrehearsed art of care, describing the difficulty in translating digital simulations to complex, human-centric patient care. Findings show that while digital progress ensured continuity in education, it also contributed to reduced clinical confidence, weaker communication skills, and shifts in how nursing students approached their learning. Consequently, the post-COVID environment demands that training programs evolve to address these specific deficits. Advancing the existing pandemic-era nursing literature, this study emphasizes the need for diverse, targeted teaching methods to mitigate these gaps. By intentionally bridging theoretical knowledge with hands-on clinical practice, educators can better support student wellbeing and help restore the confidence and competence required of future graduates.