Challenges to effective crisis management: using information and communication technologies to coordinate emergency medical services and emergency department teams

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to identify the major challenges to coordination between emergency department (ED) teams and emergency medical services (EMS) teams. DESIGN: We conducted a series of focus groups involving both ED and EMS team members using a crisis scenario as the basis of the focus group discussion. We also collected organizational workflow data. RESULTS: We identified three major challenges to coordination between ED and EMS teams including ineffectiveness of current information and communication technologies, lack of common ground, and breakdowns in information flow. DISCUSSION: The three challenges highlight the importance of designing systems from socio-technical perspective. In particular, these inter-team coordination systems must support socio-technical issues such as awareness, context, and workflow between the two teams.     

Patterns and changes in prescriber attitudes toward PDA prescription-assistive technology

Context

Medication error prevention is a priority for the U.S. healthcare system in the 21st century. Use of technology is considered by some as critical to achieve this goal. Knowledge of the attitudinal barriers to such adoption, however, is limited.

Objective

To determine the attitudes of frontline prescriber clinicians towards technology in general, and PDAs specifically, before and after introduction of a PDA in the clinical setting of medication prescribing.

Design

A pre- and post-intervention web-based survey, 12-14 months apart.

Setting

Academic tertiary care children's hospital.

Participants

Total of 244 prescriber clinicians.

Intervention

Distribution of a PDA with pediatric-specific medication prescribing information after completion of an on-line medication safety certification and other safety focused educational sessions.

Main outcome measures

Ratings (5-point Likert scale) reflecting perceptions and attitudes towards technology in general and technology in medical settings along with self-reported usage of the PDA for Rx.

Results

Early Adopters and Late Adopters were identified statistically, and the group membership reflected their prior exposure to and ownership of other technologies. Early Adopters tended to be younger and less experienced clinically (e.g., residents) and more frequent owners and users of technology. Early Adopters expressed significantly more favorable attitudes toward technology and PDAs on both pre- to post-intervention survey occasions. They also utilized the PDA for Rx more often than LAs. Interestingly, PDA use for Early Adopters was based on its ease of use, while PDA use among later adopters was based on its clinical usefulness.

Conclusions

Provision of point of care information using PDAs and a user-friendly, pediatric-specific medication information software package did not positively affect the attitudes of prescriber clinicians among those already favorable toward technology. However, a significant change was found among those with initially less favorable attitudes. Organizations need to understand the nature of both Early and Late Adopters and plan appropriately for managing the respective needs and expectations when potentially beneficial technologies are introduced. In order to ensure the success of an implementation, the training and supportive interventions need to be carefully designed and specifically catered to the personality-based outcome expectations of the prescriber.     

Norwegians GPs’ use of electronic patient record systems

Objective

To evaluate GPs use of three major electronic patient record systems with emphasis on the ability of the systems to support important clinical tasks and to compare the findings with results from a study of the three major hospital-wide systems.

Methods

A national, cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in Norwegian primary care. 247 (73%) of 338 GPs responded. Proportions of the respondents who reported to use the EPR system to conduct 23 central clinical tasks, differences in the proportions of users of different EPR systems and user satisfaction and perceived usefulness of the EPR system were measured.

Results

The GPs reported extensive use of their EPR systems to support clinical tasks. There were no significant differences in functionality between the systems, but there were differences in reported software and hardware dysfunction and user satisfaction. The respondents reported high scores in computer literacy and there was no correlation between computer usage and respondent age or gender. A comparison with hospital physicians’ use of three hospital-wide EPR systems revealed that GPs had higher usage than the hospital-based MDs. Primary care EPR systems support clinical tasks far better than hospital systems with better overall user satisfaction and reported impact on the overall quality of the work.

Conclusion

EPR systems in Norwegian primary care that have been developed in accordance with the principles of user-centered design have achieved widespread adoption and highly integrated use. The quality and efficiency of the clinical work has increased in contrast to the situation of their hospital colleagues, who report more modest use and benefits of EPR systems.     

Development of a fully implantable wireless pressure monitoring system

A fully implantable wireless pressure sensor system was developed to monitor bladder pressures in vivo. The system comprises a small commercial pressure die connected via catheter to amplifying electronics, a microcontroller, wireless transmitter, battery, and a personal digital assistant (PDA) or computer to receive the wireless data. The sensor is fully implantable and transmits pressure data once every second with a pressure detection range of 1.5 psi gauge and a resolution of 0.02 psi. In vitro calibration measurements of the device showed a high degree of linearity and excellent temporal response. The implanted device performed continuously in vivo in several porcine studies lasting over 3 days. This system can be adapted for other pressure readings, as well as other vital sign measurements; it represents the first step in developing a ubiquitous sensing platform for telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.     

Perioperative considerations for patient safety during cosmetic surgery �C preventing complications

Maintaining patient safety in the operating room is a major concern of surgeons, hospitals and surgical facilities. Circumventing preventable complications is essential, and pressure to avoid these complications in cosmetic surgery is increasing. Traditionally, nursing and anesthesia staff have managed patient positioning and safety issues in the operating room. As the number of office-based procedures in the plastic surgeon’s practice increases, understanding and implementing patient safety guidelines by the plastic surgeon is of increasing importance.A review of the Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol highlights requirements set forth to prevent perioperative complications. In the present paper, the importance of implementing these guidelines into the cosmetic surgery practice is reviewed. Key aspects of patient safety in the operating room are outlined, including patient positioning, ocular protection and other issues essential for minimization of postoperative morbidity. Additionally, as the demand for body contouring surgery in the cosmetic practice continues to increase, special attention to safety considerations specific to the obese and massive weight loss patients is mandatory.After review of the present paper, the reader should be able to introduce the Joint Commission’s Universal Protocol into their daily practice. The reader will understand key aspects of patient positioning, airway management and ocular protection in cosmetic surgery. Finally, the reader will have a better understanding of the perioperative care of unique populations including the morbidly obese, massive weight loss patients and the elderly. Attention to detail in these aspects of patient safety can help avoid unnecessary complication and significantly improve the patient’s experience and surgical outcome.     

Comfortably numb? Exploring satisfaction with chronic back pain visits

Background contextChronic back pain is a condition characterized by high rates of disability, health-care service use, and costs.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with patients' satisfaction with their last health-care provider visit for chronic low back pain (LBP).Study design/settingA cross-sectional, state-level, telephone survey was administered to patients with chronic LBP.Patient sampleThe sample consisted of 624 individuals with chronic LBP who reported seeing a health-care provider in the previous year.Outcome measuresDependent variables included satisfaction with last visit for LBP and intent to seek care from additional providers. Independent variables included the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire, 3-month pain ratings using a 0 to 10 Likert scale, the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 12, and self-reported health service utilization (provider type, number of visits to health-care providers, medication use during the previous month, and treatments and diagnostic tests during the previous year).MethodsBivariate and multivariate analyses were used to explore how demographic, insurance-related, and health-related characteristics were associated with patient satisfaction.ResultsParticipants who were not satisfied with one or more aspects of their last clinic visit were younger (51.0 vs. 54.21 years), reported higher 3-month pain ratings (7.23 vs. 6.53), and were more commonly Hispanic (53.2% vs. 46.8% for other ethnicities) and uninsured (43.1% vs. 29.3% for other insurance groups). Those who intended to seek care from additional providers were younger (50.05 vs. 55.49 years), had higher 3-month pain ratings (7.20 vs. 6.46), had lower Short Form 12 mental health component scores (44.75 vs. 49.55) and physical component scores (30.07 vs. 31.55), and were more commonly black (54.6% vs. 45.4% for other racial groups) and uninsured (56.9% vs. 43.1% for other insurance groups). Narcotic use was associated with satisfaction (odds ratio=2.12, p=.01), whereas lack of insurance was associated with respondents' intent to seek care from additional providers (odds ratio=2.97, p<.01).ConclusionsFactors other than disability were associated with satisfaction with chronic LBP visits. Understanding the role of medication in satisfaction and its implications for the health behaviors of this highly disabled population may be particularly important.     

Evaluating Knowledge of Autonomic Dysreflexia Among Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury and Their Families

Background/Objective:     

舒芬太尼用于腹部手术术后病人皮下自控镇痛的临床观察

目的观察不同剂量舒芬太尼用于腹部手术术后病人皮下自控镇痛（PCSA）效果及不良反应发生情况。方法60例择期腹部手术的病人,年龄28～63岁,ASAⅠ～Ⅱ级,随机分为三组。A组（n=20）：术后镇痛给与0．04μg／kg·h舒芬太尼;B组（n=20）：术后镇痛给与0．06μg／kg·h舒芬太尼;C组（n=20）：术后镇痛给与0．08μg／kg·h舒芬太尼。手术结束前30min给与负荷剂量舒芬太尼0．1μg／kg,手术结束后于病人三角肌处埋针置管连接镇痛泵。分别记录术后4h、8h、16h、24h、48h各时间点的生命体征,VAS评分,Ramsay评分及不良反应发生情况。结果与A组相比,B组和C组VAS评分显著降低（P〈0．05）,B组和C组间VAS评分组间差别无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;各组Ramsay评分组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;C组不良反应多于A组和B组（P〈0．05）。结论0．06μg／kg·h舒芬太尼用于腹部手术术后病人皮下自控镇痛效果确切且不良反应较少,适合临床应用。     

麻醉深度监测的研究进展

麻醉深度监测对提高麻醉质量,保障患者的围术期安全与康复具有极为重要的意义。适当的麻醉深度是保证患者生命安全、创造良好手术条件的关键因素之一。目前定量化的检测方法以其直观方便将成为新的趋势。本文对临床常用的麻醉深度监测技术及其临床应用情况进行综述。