The tablet PC will operate the ePCR system only, which was designed collaboratively by the national ambulance service and PHECC and developed by Valentia Technologies. Key to its development was the feedback from the ePCR trials which have been taking place ‘almost’ nationally since June 2005. A special mention to the ambulance service in the HSE West, coordinated by Mr. Paul Ainsworth, who have tirelessly continued to use the ePCR and provide feedback into its development over the past year. The ambulance service in HSE West replaced their electronic patient report system with the PHECC ePCR in its early stages of development and recognition needs to be given to them for their foresight in recognising that it takes time to develop a robust real-time user friendly electronic patient care system.
The ePCR solution will assist the paramedics by simplifying the process of capturing patient data for further analysis and reporting, including clinical practice guidelines and medication formulary.
Integration with the Emergency Departments
Currently the paramedic provides the emergency department with a paper copy of the ePCR record which is printed in the Emergency Dept or, as in the case of a Belmullet based ambulance, is printed on an ambulance printer. The paramedics in Belmullet have been printing successfully in the ambulance for about 6 months now and this is something that can be considered. A future enhancement to the ePCR system will enable the patient information to be wirelessly transferred directly to the hospital Emergency Department’s information system and printed directly from there, if required.
From left: Mr. Frank Mc Clintock, Assistant National Director National Ambulance Service, Ms. Jacqueline Egan, PHECC ePCR Project Manager, Mr. Pat Sheridan, Paramedic and project coordinator HSE North East, An Taoiseach Mr Bertie Ahern and Mr. Pat Grant, Chief Ambulance Officer HSE North East.
ePCR Connectivity
ECG integration with the ePCR via blue tooth enabled LifePack 12 devices is currently being implemented in the HSE North East. This enables the transmission of the 12 lead ECG electronically to the receiving Emergency Department with the full patient details outlining vital observations, care management, interventions and medications administered by the paramedic at scene and enroute to the receiving hospital.
Another exciting implementation in the HSE North East is the full integration of the Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system in the Communication Centre. (Continued in next column...)
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This step will enable certain patient CAD data to populate the patient record in the ePCR and thus reduce the amount of data entry required by the practitioner. Certain items of information can be changed following verification at scene by the practitioner.
How can this data be accessed by the service?
A reporting module has been developed whereby reports from patient information which has been entered on the ePCR can be accessed through the PHECC Information tool (www.phecit.ie). These reports can provide evidence to both seek and maintain sources of funding, provide information for research into new skills, services and any other requirements in the future for the operation and management of an efficient ambulance service.
Further Deployment
A further roll out for the ePCR solution will take place later this year in the HSE West, HSE South and nationally following further consultation with the HSE National ICT Department. All HSE ICT officers in the hospitals in the North East, under the direction of Mr. Finbar Butler, have worked closely with us in dealing with some of the IT issues which were encountered.
Cardiac First Response Report(CFRR)
The Cardiac First Response Report for responders was developed primarily for the documentation of out of hospital cardiac arrest but the report can also be used for documenting other incidents which the responder is attending. The collection of this data will enable optimal positioning of each link in the Chain thereby maximising the chances of survival of the patient.
In conjunction with the launch of the CFRR an interagency handover process document has also been circulated which offers guidance to the responder in the handover of the report to the EMT/Paramedic/Advanced Paramedic.
Patient Transport Report (PTR)
PHECC has developed a Patient Transport Report (PTR) which is currently being circulated. The purpose of the report is the recording of patient information where the patient is transported only, does not require active treatment and does not require clinical intervention other than the administration of oxygen.
The PTR was developed as a result of feedback received from some of the services – particularly those services who are using the PCR for the recording of patient transport information.
I very much welcome all feedback or comments on any of the reports or any pre-hospital information items of interest which you can email to jacqueline@phecc.ie.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help, support and patience in progressing the national collection of pre-hospital emergency care information.
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