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Impact of Wireless Electronic Medical Record System on the Quality of Patient Documentation by Emergency Field Responders during a Disaster Mass-Casualty Exercise

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 October 2011

Theodore C. Chan ,
William G. Griswold ,
Colleen Buono ,
David Kirsh ,
Joachim Lyon ,
James P. Killeen ,
Edward M. Castillo  and
Leslie Lenert
Theodore C. Chan*
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
William G. Griswold
Affiliation:
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
Colleen Buono
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
David Kirsh
Affiliation:
Department of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
Joachim Lyon
Affiliation:
Center for Work, Technology, and Organization, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California USA
James P. Killeen
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
Edward M. Castillo
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
Leslie Lenert
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, California USA
*
Correspondence: Theodore Chan, MD UCSD DEM200 West Arbor Drive #8676San Diego, California 92103 USA E-mail: tcchan@ucsd.edu
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Abstract

Introduction: The use of wireless, electronic, medical records and communications in the prehospital and disaster field is increasing.

Objective: This study examines the role of wireless, electronic, medical records and communications technologies on the quality of patient documentation by emergency field responders during a mass-casualty exercise.

Methods: A controlled, side-to-side comparison of the quality of the field responder patient documentation between responders utilizing National Institutes of Health-funded, wireless, electronic, field, medical record system prototype (“Wireless Internet Information System for medicAl Response to Disasters” or WIISARD) versus those utilizing conventional, paper-based methods during a mass-casualty field exercise. Medical data, including basic victim identification information, acuity status, triage information using Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START), decontamination status, and disposition, were collected for simulated patients from all paper and electronic logs used during the exercise. The data were compared for quality of documentation and record completeness comparing WIISARD-enabled field responders and those using conventional paper methods. Statistical analysis was performed with Fisher’s Exact Testing of Proportions with differences and 95% confidence intervals reported.

Results: One hundred simulated disaster victim volunteers participated in the exercise, 50 assigned to WIISARD and 50 to the conventional pathway. Of those victims who completed the exercise and were transported to area hospitals, medical documentation of victim START components and triage acuity were significantly better for WIISARD compared to controls (overall acuity was documented for 100% vs 89.5%, respectively, difference = 10.5% [95%CI = 0.5–24.1%]). Similarly, tracking of decontamination status also was higher for the WIISARD group (decontamination status documented for 59.0% vs 0%, respectively, difference = 9.0% [95%CI = 40.9–72.0%]). Documentation of disposition and destination of victims was not different statistically (92.3% vs. 89.5%, respectively, difference = 2.8% [95%CI = -11.3–17.3%]).

Conclusions: In a simulated, mass-casualty field exercise, documentation and tracking of victim status including acuity was significantly improved when using a wireless, field electronic medical record system compared to the use of conventional paper methods.

Keywords

disasterselectronic medical recordsinformaticsprehospital emergency care
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 26 , Issue 4 , August 2011 , pp. 268 - 275
Copyright
Copyright Chan © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2011

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