Enabling Patient Information Handoff from Pre-hospital Transport Providers to Hospital Emergency Departments: Design-Science Approach to Field Testing

The transfer of complete patient information between EMS personnel and hospitals ED staff is a major challenge in emergency medical care. This study used a design science methodology to design, demonstrate in use, and field test a mobile and web based EMS software solution that provides textual and multimedia information for emergency responses. The system was field tested for a period of three months in rural Minnesota. A mixed method approach was employed to assess the system use and perceptions of value in patient handoff. Data was drawn from system log files over a 3-month period and in-depth interviews conducted at the end of the study with an equal number of representatives from EMS personnel and ED staff. Findings suggest the use of mobile and web based EMS solutions may be more appropriate in rural settings with long transport times and for more sever incidents - where participants found value in the use of information for patient pre-registrations and early notifications. A systematic longer-term testing of clinical use of the system is suggested as the next step in further demonstrating the value of such a mobile solution.