Is paper-based documentation in an emergency medical service adequate for retrospective scientific analysis? An evaluation of a physician-run service.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if paper-based documentation in the authors' emergency medical service (EMS) satisfies scientific requirements.


METHODS
From 1 July 2007 to 28 February 2008, data from all paper-based protocols of a physician-run EMS in Aachen, Germany, were transferred to a SQL database (n=4815). Database queries were conducted after personal data had been anonymised. Documentation ratios of 11 individual parameters were analysed at two points in time (T1, scene; T2, arrival in emergency department). The calculability of the Mainz Emergency Evaluation Score (MEES, embracing seven vital parameters) was investigated. The calculability of the Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was also determined for all trauma patients (n=408). Fisher's exact test was used to compare differences in ratios at T1 versus T2.


RESULTS
The documentation ratios of vital parameters ranged from 99.33% (Glasgow Coma Scale, T1) to 40.31% (respiratory rate, T2). The calculability of the MEES was poor (all missions: 28.31%, T1; 22.40%, T2; p<0.001). In missions that required cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n=87), the MEES was calculable in 9.20% of patients at T1 and 29.89% at T2 (p<0.001). In trauma missions, the RTS was calculable in 37.26% at T1 and 27.70% at T2 (p=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Documentation of vital parameters is carried out incompletely, and documentation of respiratory rate is particularly poor, making calculation of accepted emergency scores infeasible for a significant fraction of a given test population. The suitability of paper-based documentation is therefore limited. Electronic documentation that includes real-time plausibility checks might improve data quality. Further research is warranted.
Bergrath
Sebastian
S
Section Emergency Medical Care, Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstr 30, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. sbergrath@ukaachen.de
Skorning
Max
M
Rörtgen
Daniel
D
Beckers
Stefan Kurt
SK
Brokmann
Jörg Christian
JC
Mutscher
Christina
C
Rossaint
Rolf
R
D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D010209:Paper; D010819:Physician's Role; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index