New technology places Queensland paramedics at the forefront of pre-hospital care

Queensland’s paramedics have officially farewelled paper-based reports and are now using laptop computers to record incident and patient details.

In a ceremony today at the Ipswich ambulance station, Emergency Services Minister Pat Purcell officially commissioned the electronic Ambulance Report Form (eARF).

The eARF project involves Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics using specialist laptop computers to record incidents and patient details, replacing the former paper-based system.

The roll-out of the Panasonic Toughbook personal computers to paramedics right around Queensland has taken place throughout 2006, and was completed earlier this month.

The project, which is worth $16.6 million over five years, including $5.6 million this financial year, was a Beattie Government commitment during the 2004 election.

“The eARF allows paramedics to discard detailed codes, pens and paper. Paramedics can now enter details using a straight-forward computer program with numerous dropdown menus and other time-saving features,” Mr Purcell said.

“This will reduce the time spent filling in forms, allowing paramedics to get back on the road more quickly, and improve the accuracy of pre-hospital treatment data.

“Each tablet, as the computers are known, is built to withstand knocks, spills, dust, extreme temperatures and other harsh conditions paramedics often encounter.”

Mr Purcell said the new laptops had already proven to be a great benefit to paramedics, and had received much positive feedback from staff.

“QAS paramedics collect pre-hospital incident and treatment information for more than 650,000 incidents each year.

“This makes the QAS one of the largest, if not the largest, single ambulance jurisdiction in the world collecting pre-hospital patient and incident information electronically.

“The personal computers are an innovative technology solution, which will further improve the quality of pre-hospital treatment and allow QAS personnel to work smarter,” Mr Purcell said.

QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins said eARF was developed in collaboration with the Melbourne Metropolitan Ambulance Service.

“With each roll out, our technicians have made improvements to the system based on recommendations from our frontline staff.

“Eventually, the tablets will provide easier access to resources and more information tools to make the jobs of our frontline staff easier.

“Future developments include an interface to the new Computer Aided Dispatch system being implemented next year, which will upload information received from a triple-zero (000) call directly onto the eARF. In addition, an interface to our defibrillators will be implemented to automatically upload patient medical information onto the eARF.

“There certainly are some big plans in the pipeline, including integrated mapping, and a diagram of the body that paramedics will be able to draw on. There are also plans to install a drug reference program on the tablet. With two or three clicks of a button paramedics will be able to look up medications and identify correct dosages and possible side effects.”

Mr Higgins said implementation of the eARF was a giant step forward for QAS.

“Completion of the roll out is a wonderful milestone in the history of this great ambulance service, which confirms QAS as a world leading ambulance service,” he said.

Media contacts: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571;
Daniel Landon 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976.