Title: Mitigating first respondent challenges via enhancing health record access

Authors: Tikum Tacho Teboh; Adnan Omar

Addresses: Department of MIS, Southern University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70126, USA ' Department of MIS, Southern University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70126, USA

Abstract: Most e-health record systems developed to date are meant to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of operations performed within the hospital setup. This study is one of the first that extends the applications of health information technology beyond the hospital vicinity to the site of an emergency. Also, it presents an integrated health database system, a client signalling and tracking system, and a data communication model that allows for paramedics to access medical records remotely. Results from the conducted survey illustrate that 100% of responders agreed that the demand for emergency services is on an increase; 45.45% asserted that they had difficulties in ascertaining the medical history of emergency victims; 83.33% concurred that knowledge of a victim’s medical history will expedite pre-hospital care; 83.33% desired to have more sophisticated data communication system and 66.67% preferred obtaining the medical record of an emergency victim electronically. Based on the aforementioned challenges and concerns, this study presents an integrated health database and data communication system that will enable paramedics to efficiently and effectively address some of their current concerns and challenges.

Keywords: paramedics; data communication networks; medical histories; pre-hospital care; integrated database systems; health records; e-health; electronic health; health services; healthcare; records access; first respondents; medical operations; hospitals; medical emergencies; ICT; information technology; communications technology; client signalling systems; client tracking systems; medical records; remote access; emergency services; emergency victims; New Orleans; Louisiana; USA; challenge mitigation; United States; services; standards.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSS.2011.043633

International Journal of Services and Standards, 2011 Vol.7 No.2, pp.119 - 137

Published online: 27 Feb 2015 *

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