TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2009//
TI  - Effect of introduction of electronic patient reporting on the duration of ambulance calls
JO  - American journal of emergency medicine
A1  - Kuisma, Markku
A1  - Väyrynen, Taneli
A1  - Hiltunen, Tuomas
A1  - Porthan, Kari
A1  - Aaltonen, Janne
SP  - 948
EP  - 955
VL  - 27
IS  - 8
N2  - OBJECTIVES: We examined the effect of the change from paper records to the electronic patient records (EPRs) on ambulance call duration. METHODS: We retrieved call duration times 6 months before (group 1) and 6 months after (group 2) the introduction of EPR. Subgroup analysis of group 2 was fulfilled depending whether the calls were made during the first or last 3 months after EPR introduction. RESULTS: We analyzed 37 599 ambulance calls (17 950 were in group 1 and 19 649 were in group 2). The median call duration in group 1 was 48 minutes and in group 2 was 49 minutes (P = .008). In group 2, call duration was longer during the first 3 months after EPR introduction. In multiple linear regression analysis, urgency category (P < .0001), unit level (P < .0001), and transportation decision (P < .0001) influenced the call duration. The documentation method was not a significant factor. CONCLUSIONS: Electronic patient record system can be implemented in an urban ambulance service in such a way that documentation method does not become a significant factor in determining call duration in the long run. Temporary performance drop during the first 3 months after introduction was noticed, reflecting adaptation process to a new way of working.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0735-6757
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2008.07.033
ID  - ref1
ER  -