Electronic Run Reports

Regional PerspectiveJoanne LeBrun

Regional Coordinator – Tri-County EMS

Tri-County EMS

30 services 9 are using the system

3 actively training

Comments I Hear

“I would never go back to paper!”

It is worth the effort.”

“Our bills are paid faster and we receive more money.”

Training

Allow time for training Created a training plan Train before you implement

Useful strategy – 20 reports per provider with QI

Training

Add to EMS Curriculum Instructor training module for EMS

classes

Run Report Manual

Clear definitions Method to update and disseminate

changes Available before training begins

Involve Hospitals Early

What are their expectations? How do they want the patient

information? What are they doing now? How are they using the information

now? Space concerns

Patient Safety

Proper information transfer is key to patient safety If report won’t be left at hospital –

agree in advance what will be left

How Much Time Will It Take?

Study how long it currently takes to properly complete a legible handwritten run report QI Review

Electronic factors – Keyboarding skills Interruptions

Features

Frequent flyer lists Integrated with dispatch Easy access – web

Tablet PC Pros and Cons

Access to Reports

Who When How Tracking Locking the form –

prevent changes – allow addendums

Cautions

Avoid “big brother” syndrome

Format

How many pages? Easy to read and understand Auto narrative or not?

Things to Consider

Storage, back up, retrieval, archive If on web –

Capacity – How many at once? Speed of transfer

Refusals and signing of privacy forms

Advantages

Easy to read Improved documentation

Calculates report completeness Need to determine what is “complete” Acceptable time frame for completing

form

Improved/ease of QI

Advantages

Contemporary information Planning Feedback Budgeting Meeting Performance Complaints/concerns

Advantages

More money, faster

Advantages

QI Reports Trends Query Benchmarks

Real Uses

Protocol use and success Resolve call concern (have facts

immediately) QI notes and email

Regional Uses

QI, Trending, Benchmarking, Resolve Problems

Trauma tracking Follow up System status

Future

Ease of QI Reports What works, what doesn’t Safe practice

Help identify training needs or protocol changes based on trends

Communication tool

Questions?