Switching ePCR Software Provider

smurfe

smurfe

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We are considering switching ePCR providers. Anyone else done this? What were the issues? Did you loose all of your old data? Did it transfer to the new system? I administer our current software and am wondering what I might encounter with a software provider switch.
 
DEmedic said:
Switching from what to what?
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An important question. Another important question is what data are you worried about losing?

You're almost certainly going to wind up having to reenter all the service and personnel info, but you should be able to batch export/import all of the run sheets into some format the new ePCR likes (NEMSIS, if nothing else), so you should be able to keep that data (if not all of it, almost all of it, depending on exactly how far of standards your current and new ePCR solutions are). Assuming the new solution is halfway decent, it should repopulate things like who the provider was on any given call (assuming you use the same numbers), previous patients, etc.

Give me more details, and I'll try to give you more answers.
 
If you're moving to one of the major players; Zoll, ImageTrend or the like, they'll be able to batch all of your service specific data. Make sure that migration is part of your RFP.
 
We moved away from Zoll a while back, and when we switch to Golden Hour our older data should be moved over without a problem. That's what they're telling us anyways
 
Use Imagetrend, wanting to switch to ESO. The old run reports were my major concern. I know I would have to enter all the providers, etc again. Was just wondering if I had to go find a call from lets say 4 years ago, I could still pull that run report.
 
I'm assuming that you're currently on the state license of rescuebridge, which I don't know how customized they made it (various states range from "not at all" to "somewhat"), so you may lose a couple of fields here and there, but they're both NEMSIS gold certified, so certainly the vast majority will survive.

Assuming that there are some fields that don't survive, I can't really see any reason not to keep the old run sheets available on the state's rescuebridge site.
 
You may have to license one instance of Statebridge for access to the old run reports.
 
We don't use Statebridge or Rescuebridge. We have Servicebridge and Fieldbridge on the toughbooks.
 
Contact your rep from ImageTrend and inquire about access to old reports. I helped convert to Zoll several years ago and it was a nightmare. A combination of cheap hardware coupled with the providers being poorly trained.

Our state moved to Image Trend from a custom home brewed system and the transition was all done at the state level. Relatively painless for the field medics. I actually like image trend.
 
NEMSIS requires that all EPCR data is formatted in the same XML format with the same 380 (about to be 536) data points. Image-trend is compliant with this and as long as ESO is nemsis gold compliant as well they can migrate directly over so long as no runs currently on eso servers have the same number. they may have to import with a few zeros in front to keep them separated...

as for what someone else said, put migration in your RFP and let them worry about it. as long as your new provider has it on their server when it done who cares how it got there.
 
DEmedic said:
Contact your rep from ImageTrend and inquire about access to old reports. I helped convert to Zoll several years ago and it was a nightmare. A combination of cheap hardware coupled with the providers being poorly trained.

Our state moved to Image Trend from a custom home brewed system and the transition was all done at the state level. Relatively painless for the field medics. I actually like image trend.
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Do you administer Imagetrend for your service? I to find Fieldbridge ok and a good report writing software. I work on the back end in Servicebridge administering our site as well as do QA/QI. I despise this software. Not user friendly at all unless you happen to have an IT degree.
 
Nope. ImageTrend is fully managed by the state OEMS. Individual agencies are only "users" of the system.
 
smurfe said:
Do you administer Imagetrend for your service? I to find Fieldbridge ok and a good report writing software. I work on the back end in Servicebridge administering our site as well as do QA/QI. I despise this software. Not user friendly at all unless you happen to have an IT degree.
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Contrary to popular belief, an "IT" degree probably means you aren't good with computers (but are amazing at reading eWeek, ComputerWorld, etc). ;-)

That was a complaint I heard about emsCharts' reporting tool, but as a software engineer I found it to be amazing*. I could actually get useful information out of the system. Most systems use Crystal Reports, which seems fancy, until you realize it basically comes packaged with most major software development kits for free...so it means you have the laziest/cheapest software engineers on the planet administering the system.

We're evaluating ESO, ImageTrend, etc, and the cheesy canned reports were a big turn off with ESO. If ImageTrend is truly computer science friendly, maybe I'll take a second look at it!


* emsCharts is one of the worst pieces of software I've ever used. It is also the best ePCR software I've used. Please read the term 'amazing' with that in mind.
 
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Christopher said:
Contrary to popular belief, an "IT" degree probably means you aren't good with computers (but are amazing at reading eWeek, ComputerWorld, etc). ;-)

That was a complaint I heard about emsCharts' reporting tool, but as a software engineer I found it to be amazing*. I could actually get useful information out of the system. Most systems use Crystal Reports, which seems fancy, until you realize it basically comes packaged with most major software development kits for free...so it means you have the laziest/cheapest software engineers on the planet administering the system.

We're evaluating ESO, ImageTrend, etc, and the cheesy canned reports were a big turn off with ESO. If ImageTrend is truly computer science friendly, maybe I'll take a second look at it!


* emsCharts is one of the worst pieces of software I've ever used. It is also the best ePCR software I've used. Please read the term 'amazing' with that in mind.
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A shame EMScharts is going away. http://www.macreportmedia.com/ViewSubmission.aspx?submissionRequest=27312
 
DEmedic said:
A shame EMScharts is going away. http://www.macreportmedia.com/ViewSubmission.aspx?submissionRequest=27312
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This is why software patents are unethical (and I refuse to participate in them with my current employer). The fact that you can slap "...on a computer" behind something makes it patentable is ridiculous...What's worse is GH's ePCR software isn't a great product either.

Unfortunately for emsCharts they probably won't last until Alice Corp vs CLS Bank gets decided by SCOTUS.
 
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