Astronaut Medical Emergency Simulations Highlight Value-Based Care Strategies at HIMSS26 Workshop

The astronauts also highlighted the role of onboard ultrasound technology in managing the emergency, which remains a rare occurrence during missions on the space station.

A workshop at the HIMSS Global Health Conference & Exhibition 2026 explored how healthcare leaders can approach value-based care decision-making by simulating medical emergencies during space missions.

Participants were divided into teams and assigned scenarios involving astronauts facing health crises aboard the International Space Station. Each team evaluated clinical responses while managing limited resources, communication challenges, and mission outcomes.

Three groups examined separate cases: one involving vision loss, another focused on mental health, and a third dealing with a blood clot. Within each group, participants assumed operational roles such as flight surgeon, communications director, science officer, and resource efficiency lead.

Teams assessed provider capabilities, technology options, patient-centered outcomes, and resource efficiency. Each group selected one of three available technologies to address the scenario and weighed potential clinical outcomes against operational constraints.

Following the exercise, teams calculated a mission score based on their decisions. Scores between 26 and 30 indicated mission success, while 20 to 25 reflected survival with compromise. Scores between 14 and 19 represented critical strain, and scores below 14 indicated mission failure.

The team handling the mental health scenario achieved the highest score with 28 points. The group addressing vision loss scored 24 points, while the team evaluating the blood clot scenario recorded 17 points.

Several attendees said the exercise highlighted the complexity of decision-making when clinical care must be delivered with limited resources and incomplete information.

Medical Emergencies in Space Missions

Recent events have underscored the importance of managing medical emergencies in space missions.

In January, astronauts from NASA’s Crew-11 mission experienced a medical event aboard the International Space Station, which led to an early return to Earth. The crew included Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Kimiya Yui of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Oleg Platonov from Roscosmos.

Fincke later confirmed he was the astronaut who experienced the medical issue during the mission.

“On Jan. 7, while aboard the International Space Station, I experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates,” Fincke said in a statement.

The astronaut noted that the crew stabilized the situation with guidance from NASA flight surgeons before returning to Earth to access advanced medical imaging not available in orbit.

The astronauts also highlighted the role of onboard ultrasound technology in managing the emergency, which remains a rare occurrence during missions on the space station.

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