CASE STUDY:
Norfolk Fire & Paramedical Services

Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services are doing something that no other city EMS or Fire division in the state of Virginia has done. Over the past eight months, mobile computers have made their way into 10 of the department’s rescue units, transforming an old paper trail reporting system into a totally paperless environment. For training and rollout purposes, the original implementation required paramedics to collect information on paper as well as on the computer. After a gradual progression from one to the other and months of reviewing procedures, a certain comfort level was achieved.

The HAMMERHEAD was the chosen hardware for this project. Docking stations and keyboards were mounted in the vehicles where they can charge off the car battery. During an emergency run, the patient’s information is recorded on Firehouse, software developed by Visionary Systems (Des Moines, IA). The data is quickly entered into previously designed drop down menus and form fields. When the crew arrives at the hospital, the paramedic crew rushes the patient in with all the information collected and stored on the HAMMERHEAD. A stationary desktop docking station awaits creating an office environment for the team as the completed report downloads back to the fire station’s main computer system via network connection.

The captured report has not only streamlined the data collection process but is a wealth of information for the department. The information is then stored or passed on to generate bills or patient reports. Case studies can even be created from injury, illness and vital statistic analysis. "We are happy with the results we’ve had so far" remarked Jack Goldhorn, Public Information Officer for Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services. "The computers are carried here, there and everywhere and are holding up. They’re pretty tough."
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