Field Data Collection Is There
An Answer?
Acadian
Ambulance Service, Inc.
John
R. Zuschlag
John R. Zuschlag
Sr. VP. Info/Com Systems
BSN/RN
25 + Years in EMS @ AASI
Worked in Every Department
14 Years Info/Com Systems
jzuschlag@acadian.com
Acadians Service Area
(Image of Area)
Acadian Operational Statistics
60% of Louisiana
212,000 Patients/yr.
1000 Medics
400 Support Personnel
20 FTEs in I/S
158 Ambulances
91 Offshore Platforms
5 Helicopters / 2 Airplanes
93 Stations
Geographically Dispersed
Size and Location
Employee Communications
A lot of Information to Distribute
Run/Patient Information to Collect
Supplies to Distribute
Leading Edge or Bleeding Edge?
Perfect world
ENTER DATA ONE TIME PREFERBLY BY INITIAL CONTACT
(MEDIC) - STORE IN ONE PLACE THAT IS SHARED BY ALL DEPARTMENTS
Most Appropriate Tools to Fit Needs
Scales of Economy Drives Most Efficient Procedures and
Equipment
> Computerization =s
< People =s > Savings
Systems
PC Based (350)
20 Servers (HP)
2 Optical Juke Boxes
Critical Systems
Redundant
Disk Array Raid 5
100/10 base T
UPS System
Remote Connectivity
Citrix Server for Apps.
Windows/NT/SQL
Exchange
Elimination of Duplicated DBs
Easy Access from Large Service Area
911 Transfers Callers Directly to AASI
ANI/ALI Information Available
Interfaced into CAD (TriTech Software Systems)
Area 800 Number
511 from Entire Service Area
Acadian On Call
Manage Information Received from Caller
Search Membership Information DB
Search Acadian on Call DB
Search Billing Information DB
Searches by Phone Number & Address
Call-taker Selects or Over-rides Information Found
Closing Calls Patient Information
Not a Function of Communication Center Already Very
Busy
Get crews turned around quickly
Via MDT / Computer / Phone
Ticket variations
Hand
written tickets hard to read
Tickets Mailed
Medic Support Center
Field Computing Pen/Handheld Computers Pros
Previously Transported Patients
Validation to Prevent Errors
Reminders for Crews helps to prevent missed
information
More Legible Ticket
Received Quicker by Business Office
Auto Supply Ordering
Reduced Data Entry in BO
Medical Data Uploaded Directly Into DB
Report on Medical Ability Algorithms to test
protocols
Ability to Quickly Change Fields on Form
Reduce $ Spent on Forms
Quick
turn-around of bills - > % paid
Field Computing Pen/Handheld Computers Cons
Assumption Crews Knew How to Document Run Reports
Billing Procedures Change Quickly
Collect TOO Much Information
Support
Required Time to Complete Report
Software Bugs
Hardware problems
TRAINING, Training, Training
Intimidation and Frustration
Comfort Levels
Expense
Medic Support Center
Staffing expensive staffed by medics primarily
Ps but Bs also
Phone/cellular
expense
Ability
to guide crew ask appropriate questions
Crew
dictates to call taker
Ability
to verify insurance information not necessary to take if on file
Quicker
turn around for crews
Eliminates
remediation of tickets
Decreased
staffing in BO
Bills
out quicker
Approved
via Intranet
Business Office
Text Based System Limited Functionality
System to Meet our Needs Not Available
No One Interested in Responding to RFP
AR2000 Same Author as Original EAI
Windows Based
SQL DB Queries Other DBs
Development Time Much Greater
100% AASI Billing
Everything Available from One Screen
Customer Based
Work Flow
Queue Design
Conditions/Rules
Multiple Employees Can Access Same Pt. At Same Time
Statement Billing Bill Multiple Parties at the Same
Time
Report Generator
Letters Generated in Word
Communications Problems
Spread Out
Lots of Employees
Lots of Information to Disseminate
Lots of Information to Collect
Great Way to Share Information
Intranet
Employees Only
Email
Memos and News
Supply Requisitioning
Purchasing Plus
Employee Status Changes
Vacation Requests, schedule changes, change of address
401K Account Access
CE Hours Employee Directory
Employee Profile
Paging
Company Newsletter
Online Manuals
Training Schedules
Personal Calendars/Reminders (under construction)