Understanding the Effect of Electronic Prehospital Medical Records in Ambulances: A Qualitative Observational Study in a Prehospital Setting

Frederikke Bøgh Jensen, Kathrine Tornbjerg Ladefoged, Tim Alex Lindskou, Morten Breinholt Søvsø, Erika Frischknecht Christensen and Maurizio Teli
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Frederikke Bøgh Jensen: Techno-Anthropology, Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Kathrine Tornbjerg Ladefoged: Techno-Anthropology, Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Tim Alex Lindskou: Centre for Prehospital and Emergency Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Morten Breinholt Søvsø: Centre for Prehospital and Emergency Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Erika Frischknecht Christensen: Centre for Prehospital and Emergency Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark
Maurizio Teli: Department of Planning, Aalborg University, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-9

Abstract: Little is known of ambulance professionals’ work practices regarding the use of medical records, their communication with patients, before and during hand over to Emergency Departments (ED). An electronic Prehospital Medical Record (ePMR) has been implemented in all Danish ambulances since 2015. Our aim was to investigate the use of ePMR and whether it affected the ambulance professionals’ clinical practice. We performed a qualitative study with observations of ePMR use in ambulance runs in the North Denmark Region. Furthermore, informal interviews with ambulance professionals was performed. Analysis was accomplished with inspiration from grounded theory. Our main findings were: (1) the ePMR is an essential work tool which aided ambulance professionals with overview of data collection and facilitated a checklist for ED hand overs, (2) mobility and flexibility of the ePMR facilitated conversations and relations with the patients, and (3) in acute severe situations, the ePMR could not stand alone in hand over or communication with the ED. The ePMR affected the ambulance professionals’ work practice in various ways and utilization of ePMR while simultaneously treating patients in ambulances does not obstruct the relation with the patient. To this end, the ePMR appears feasible in collaboration across the prehospital setting.

Keywords: ambulances; electronic health record; cultural anthropology; emergency medical services (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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