Healthcare of the Future: EMT Problem StatementsHealthcare of the Future: EMT Problem Statements

Jenny Liu, ECEJelece Morris, HSI

David Woods, ArchErxi Liu, Arch

Fall 2012

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Problem 1: Process FlowProblem 1: Process Flow

• Problem Statement:– Ambulances arriving at the Emergency Department at Grady have

been observed to take an average of 18 minutes to transfer a patient to the ED. A shorter time of patient transfer into the hospital’s triage queue allows medics to circulate and respond to other calls. Analysis of process flow can be critical to improving opportunity cost of EMS, triage and the hospital staff.

• Background– Typical ambulances are staffed with 2 medics (1 EMT driver, 1

paramedic with the patient)– At time of unloading, both medics accompany the patient into the

ambulance bay of ED and stay until the triage nurse accepts patient into triage queue

• Finance– Average cost of ambulance transport for providers: ~$415– Ambulance transports accounted for 31 percent of the providers’

revenues (Medicare 2004)

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Problem 1: Process FlowProblem 1: Process Flow

• Solution– Space consideration

• Placement of stretchers in the ambulance bay• Redesign of overall ambulance bay

– Triage tracks• Fast track

– Employed at Midtown– Additional resource: Improving patient flow in the

emergency department (Healthcare Financial Management: Journal of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, 2008)

– Communication• Quicker transfer of medical information

• Interdisciplinary problem– HSI: process flow, logistics– ECE: devices, technology aids in

transfer/communication– ARCH: space restrictions/efficiency

• Timetable– A recommendation/model can be

made by December• Scalable

– generalize flow process for multiple hospitals

• Within scope of project– focusing on time that the patient

arrives at the hospital via ambulance and is entered into the triage queue

• Out of scope– Outside of the hospital– High level injury that bypasses triage

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Problem 2: Information PrivacyProblem 2: Information Privacy

• Problem Statement:– In the ambulatory services area of Grady’s Emergency Department,

medics have been observed verbally exchanging information to the triage nurses. This method of communicating patient information may lead to increased opportunities for error, compromising HIPAA, and requires more time than other means of information exchange. There is an opportunity to further investigate ways to keep patient information protected and reduce the risk of violating HIPAA.

• Background– Hospitals are required to comply with Privacy and Security Rules– The Privacy Rule applies to all forms of individuals' protected health information, whether

electronic, written, or oral.

• What Information Is Protected – Information your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers put in your medical record– Conversations your doctor has about your care or treatment with nurses and others

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Problem 2: Information PrivacyProblem 2: Information Privacy

• Solution– Bump/Bluetooth

• Near field communication• Exchange information

without wires, security issues, or error during transfer

– Directional sound• Sound domes to

communicate under

• Interdisciplinary problem– Health Systems: Understanding of

HIPAA violations, communication processes

– Electrical Engineer: Coding devices for information exchange

– Architect: Environment structure in which information is being communicated

• Timetable– A recommendation or solution can be

arrived at by the end of the semester• Scalable

– multiple Emergency Departments• Scope

– Verbal information communicated from paramedics to triage nurses

• Out of the scope– Things not occurring during that time

frame