New NJ EMS Data Law

The Fezz

Forum Ride Along
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Hello all,

Recently, I and probably so did many others found out that all New Jersey EMS agencies and dispatch centers to report call data.

Here is some info on it.

"The Law mandates that ALL agencies that respond to 911 emergencies use NEMSIS compliant (currently 3.4) electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) software by January 1, 2018. For more information about NEMSIS, please visit www NEMSIS org. Currently, NJ has over 270 EMS agencies that are already submitting NEMSIS 3.4 compliant data to the State repository. Over 100,000 records (or about 80% of 911 calls) are submitted monthly."

So essentially, all NJ EMS Agencies will have to use electronic PCRs.

What is everyone's thoughts on this? (Especially those of you from NJ)
If you use Electronic PCRs now, what are the pros and cons? Do you enjoy using them?

I have been in EMS for just over a year now and am approaching a full year as an EMT this September, so I haven't been in very long at all, but I personally like using the paper PCRs my agency has. Maybe that's because that's how I have been taught. But I know that other people in my agency, like those who have been in EMS for 20+ years have been doing the same thing their entire EMS career. I foresee this change being very challenging for those people, plus the other challenges of obtaining the software,(which is going to be provided for free, but getting it out to all the agencies could be a problem), etc.

Let me know what ya'll think of this! And please, if you have any tips, share em!
-Fezz
 

Tigger

Dodges Pucks
Community Leader
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Hello all,

Recently, I and probably so did many others found out that all New Jersey EMS agencies and dispatch centers to report call data.

Here is some info on it.

"The Law mandates that ALL agencies that respond to 911 emergencies use NEMSIS compliant (currently 3.4) electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) software by January 1, 2018. For more information about NEMSIS, please visit www NEMSIS org. Currently, NJ has over 270 EMS agencies that are already submitting NEMSIS 3.4 compliant data to the State repository. Over 100,000 records (or about 80% of 911 calls) are submitted monthly."

So essentially, all NJ EMS Agencies will have to use electronic PCRs.

What is everyone's thoughts on this? (Especially those of you from NJ)
If you use Electronic PCRs now, what are the pros and cons? Do you enjoy using them?

I have been in EMS for just over a year now and am approaching a full year as an EMT this September, so I haven't been in very long at all, but I personally like using the paper PCRs my agency has. Maybe that's because that's how I have been taught. But I know that other people in my agency, like those who have been in EMS for 20+ years have been doing the same thing their entire EMS career. I foresee this change being very challenging for those people, plus the other challenges of obtaining the software,(which is going to be provided for free, but getting it out to all the agencies could be a problem), etc.

Let me know what ya'll think of this! And please, if you have any tips, share em!
-Fezz
Data collection from paper reports is nearly impossible, and that alone is why EMS has to embrace ePCRs.
 

EpiEMS

Forum Deputy Chief
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Data is crucial for system improvement, research, and QA/QI. EPCRs make it easier to collect data - they ought to be required!


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Bullets

Forum Knucklehead
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Hello all,

Recently, I and probably so did many others found out that all New Jersey EMS agencies and dispatch centers to report call data.

Here is some info on it.

"The Law mandates that ALL agencies that respond to 911 emergencies use NEMSIS compliant (currently 3.4) electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) software by January 1, 2018. For more information about NEMSIS, please visit www NEMSIS org. Currently, NJ has over 270 EMS agencies that are already submitting NEMSIS 3.4 compliant data to the State repository. Over 100,000 records (or about 80% of 911 calls) are submitted monthly."

So essentially, all NJ EMS Agencies will have to use electronic PCRs.

What is everyone's thoughts on this? (Especially those of you from NJ)
If you use Electronic PCRs now, what are the pros and cons? Do you enjoy using them?
You dont have to leave paper charts, someone just has to enter the data from them. So it would be more work for your squad officers. That said, paper charts are terrible and lack a lot of information.

I
have been in EMS for just over a year now and am approaching a full year as an EMT this September, so I haven't been in very long at all, but I personally like using the paper PCRs my agency has. Maybe that's because that's how I have been taught. But I know that other people in my agency, like those who have been in EMS for 20+ years have been doing the same thing their entire EMS career. I foresee this change being very challenging for those people, plus the other challenges of obtaining the software,(which is going to be provided for free, but getting it out to all the agencies could be a problem), etc.

Let me know what ya'll think of this! And please, if you have any tips, share em!
-Fezz
The software is provided free from DOH. It is not difficult to set up an account and get the software out to the agencies. Once you register with the state, your administrator is given a log in for your agency and an agency specific website. It take about a week to get your agency account activated. Form there its really up to your squad how long it takes to get everything set up.

Yes, people who have been doing paper will have some learning. But with just some basic practice it is easy to do a chart. I finish mine before it get to the ER. Its important for this to happen as it shows the willingness of the DOH to drag these backwards and archaic volunteer and fly by night transports kicking and screaming into 21st century medicine

That said, if you need help, feel free to PM me. I am a system administrator for two agencies and have help a few other set up Imagetrend for BLS squads.

Joe
 
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OP
The Fezz

The Fezz

Forum Ride Along
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You dont have to leave paper charts, someone just has to enter the data from them. So it would be more work for your squad officers. That said, paper charts are terrible and lack a lot of information.

I

The software is provided free from DOH. It is not difficult to set up an account and get the software out to the agencies. Once you register with the state, your administrator is given a log in for your agency and an agency specific website. It take about a week to get your agency account activated. Form there its really up to your squad how long it takes to get everything set up.

Yes, people who have been doing paper will have some learning. But with just some basic practice it is easy to do a chart. I finish mine before it get to the ER. Its important for this to happen as it shows the willingness of the DOH to drag these backwards and archaic volunteer and fly by night transports kicking and screaming into 21st century medicine

That said, if you need help, feel free to PM me. I am a system administrator for two agencies and have help a few other set up Imagetrend for BLS squads.

Joe
Good to know! I'l let ya know if I need anything!
 

DrParasite

The fire extinguisher is not just for show
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I worked for a hospital based EMS system (actually two, at different times), when we switched from paper charts to electronic charts. Both were ALS agencies, and ran between 70,000 and 100,000 calls a year. There were a couple observations I found:

1) People don't like change. They have used paper charts for years, so they took it as a personal attack when management forced them to go electronic.
2) if it's done half assed (like it was at both agencies), you will have issues. if you are going paperless, go paperless in it's entirety. no need for paper at all, except for disaster backups. Have electronic PCs with cellular cards, so data can be sent and received anywhere, not just when back at station when on wifi. And have backup PCs for when the ones in your trucks get broken or have issues.
3) having been on the committee to redesign our squad's run sheets prior, I can attest that people are lazy, write horrible narratives, and most would get fileted by a lawyer if they had to defend it on the witness stand. electronics charts won't solve this issue, but it can help remind people to fill in all the sections.
4) your staff WILL need to change the way they write charts. your agency should have a standard template about what they expect. your officers should train your field personnel, and there should be a QA person in place to make sure that is being done.
5) electronic charts are AWESOME, and much easier to draw data analytics form. pull up information from frequent flyers. get refusals signed for the in the rain. no need to worry about people's crappy handwriting. automatic time stamping of vital signs.

By your own original post, only 20% of all EMS agencies refuse to use electronic charts. Step up to the 21st century, or step aside. If the old timers can't do it, no worries; you should just drive and have a younger guy do patient care. or maybe it's time to retire and let the new generation take over. It's not rocket science, but if you can't adjust, than maybe it's time for you to do something else.

The software is free..... you just need to download it (if they are still using mobile versions of apps), or it will be web based. The biggest hurdle will be purchasing computers to type the charts in the ambulances, but since 80% of the state already do them, you won't have to reinvent the wheel... ask them what they did.

i was a superuser for electronic charts before i left NJ and I trained others on how to use technology. The biggest advice I can give is have someone in management design a cheat sheet (with your agency watermark on the back), detailing what they expect everyone to do with every box on the e pcr, and have QA make sure it's being done. and take that cheat sheet, and put it in every ambulance and crew lounge so people can reference it. Made it cut and dry exactly what was expected.
 

Jim37F

Forum Deputy Chief
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I bet every single person who would be complaining about having to update from using paper charts to ePCRs has managed to keep pace with every other technological change.....I bet they all have some sort of smart phone or tablet, even if they don't have Facebook or even use a flip phone out of principle, I bet they still use electronic banking, direct deposit, automatic bill pay vs handwriting a bunch of checks every single month. They all use email on a wifi connection (how many use DirecTV to use those fancy satellites to watch their sports and paperviews?) If you told them they need to scan and email a pdf of a document in, most all would not have an issue (even if they had to go to a Kinkos or FedEx store first).....etc etc etc, in other words, you don't have to be some millennial wearing VR glasses talking on a smart watch to have kept up with technological changes.....there's no legit excuse that changing over from paper to ePCR is too hard for a health care provider to wrap their heads around. Just like medicine and protocols and monitors and trucks have changed, so too can they keep up with this. Especially if the agency does a little bit of research and finds and uses an ePCR that replicates the look of the paper charts, they're out there, and are awesome to use.
 
OP
OP
The Fezz

The Fezz

Forum Ride Along
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1
I worked for a hospital based EMS system (actually two, at different times), when we switched from paper charts to electronic charts. Both were ALS agencies, and ran between 70,000 and 100,000 calls a year. There were a couple observations I found:

1) People don't like change. They have used paper charts for years, so they took it as a personal attack when management forced them to go electronic.
2) if it's done half assed (like it was at both agencies), you will have issues. if you are going paperless, go paperless in it's entirety. no need for paper at all, except for disaster backups. Have electronic PCs with cellular cards, so data can be sent and received anywhere, not just when back at station when on wifi. And have backup PCs for when the ones in your trucks get broken or have issues.
3) having been on the committee to redesign our squad's run sheets prior, I can attest that people are lazy, write horrible narratives, and most would get fileted by a lawyer if they had to defend it on the witness stand. electronics charts won't solve this issue, but it can help remind people to fill in all the sections.
4) your staff WILL need to change the way they write charts. your agency should have a standard template about what they expect. your officers should train your field personnel, and there should be a QA person in place to make sure that is being done.
5) electronic charts are AWESOME, and much easier to draw data analytics form. pull up information from frequent flyers. get refusals signed for the in the rain. no need to worry about people's crappy handwriting. automatic time stamping of vital signs.

By your own original post, only 20% of all EMS agencies refuse to use electronic charts. Step up to the 21st century, or step aside. If the old timers can't do it, no worries; you should just drive and have a younger guy do patient care. or maybe it's time to retire and let the new generation take over. It's not rocket science, but if you can't adjust, than maybe it's time for you to do something else.

The software is free..... you just need to download it (if they are still using mobile versions of apps), or it will be web based. The biggest hurdle will be purchasing computers to type the charts in the ambulances, but since 80% of the state already do them, you won't have to reinvent the wheel... ask them what they did.

i was a superuser for electronic charts before i left NJ and I trained others on how to use technology. The biggest advice I can give is have someone in management design a cheat sheet (with your agency watermark on the back), detailing what they expect everyone to do with every box on the e pcr, and have QA make sure it's being done. and take that cheat sheet, and put it in every ambulance and crew lounge so people can reference it. Made it cut and dry exactly what was expected.
Thanks for your reply and tips!
Like you said, the old timers on my squad will have the toughest time adjusting. The other thing is all these old timers on my squad hate change and really don't want a new generation to take over.
We were lucky to get power stretchers approved and bought (money wasn't a problem, it's the people).
It will be easy for me to adjust cause I'm only 17 and im used to this technology so hopefully this change will help relations with the newer generation and the old timers.

But I really do appreciate the tips!

You are 100% right @Jim37F . All of the people complaining have a smart phone, Facebook, etc. Like they did with smart phones, they will have to adjust to the EPCRs. Its not like they have a choice haha.
 
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