Rapid Development and Implementation of Software for Managing Treatment, Evacuation, and Diagnostic Data of War Casualties: the “Golden Watch” System - From Concept to Reality in Weeks

Introduction: During the recent war in Israel, thousands of soldiers sustained injuries, and hundreds lost their lives. The army was required to maintain precise data on the injured and deceased, detailing the nature and location of injuries, the hospital to which a patient was transported, the vehicle used for transportation, and the time of injury, to support operational decision-making. This study presents the rapid and professional process undertaken by the IDF’s Southern Command to establish the “Golden Watch” system, which compiles and displays all this data. Methods: The study employed a mixed-methods approach. The quantitative analysis involved examining data collected by the system and comparing it with information from hospitals, medical teams, and commanders’ reports. The qualitative component included interviews with six senior officers to assess their satisfaction and perspectives on the system. Results: The quantitative analysis determined that the system’s reliability is exceptionally high, with data accuracy exceeding 99% across all tested aspects, including the nature of the injury, injury date, injury location, evacuation destination, and evacuation method. The qualitative findings revealed three key themes: the system’s simplicity is a significant advantage, its primary disadvantage is its reliance on manual input, and its unique capability to present a comprehensive overview of broad statistics is essential. Conclusion: This research demonstrates that adapting to leverage advanced technologies during a mission is possible and necessary. The “Golden Watch” system provides a model that can be readily implemented in hospitals, military forces, and other organizations worldwide. By enhancing the comprehensive situational picture, this system has the potential to significantly improve decision-making and operational effectiveness in crisis response and emergency management contexts beyond the military domain.