Abstract
---To investigate if the use of personal digital
assistance (PDA) with wireless transmission could provide more pre-hospital
information before arrival to the emergency departments, we implemented
the PDA system with wireless transmission and web-based recording
system in the EMS of Taipei City since August 1st 2002. All pre-hospital
records were posted in PDA software. The PDA was hanged on the legs
of the EMTs. The time elapse from information received to the arrival
to the ER was recorded. The completeness of pre-hospital recording
was evaluated by two independent physicians. In addition, a questionnaire
for EMTs was used to evaluate the possible difficulties in PDA use.
There were 145 pre-hospital records enrolled in the study. Sixty
eight records were posted in PDA files whereas the other 77 records
were listed as traditional method. Among the cases used with PDA
recordings, the mean time interval between the information received
in our institute and arrival to hospital was 1.6+0.3 min. Eight
of the 68 files (12%) were incomplete, especially the recording
of vital signs (6/8, 75%). On the other hand, 9 of the 77 traditional
records were incomplete (12%, P=NS vs. PDA files). According to
the questionnaire, lack of personnel operating the PDA (28/35, 80%)
and unfamiliarity with PDA processing (22/35, 63%) were the main
factors affecting the completeness of PDA files. PDA-based EMT pre-hospital
recording may have the benefit of early information received before
arrival to the hospital. More humanistic design may be needed to
promote the use of the system and its efficiencies. |