Field data software is a broad collection of computer applications that allow field personnel to enter and record patient assessment and treatment data. As more services switch from a paper-based patient care report (PCR) to an electronic PCR, selecting field data software is an important purchasing decision for many EMS agencies.
When purchasing field data software, remember these top considerations:
1. Start by asking why you need field data software and what your important feature needs are for the software. Is your most important consideration creating a report for the receiving facility or is it to interface with your billing service?
2. Have you already selected the hardware – laptop or notebook computer, smart phone, desktop computer, or personal digital assistant – that will be used to enter data? If yes, then you are limited to the software that is supported on your hardware platform.
3. Ask the field data software vendor about the frequency of upgrades and improvements. Are upgrades included in the original price or will you need to pay for upgrades? Will upgrades to the software require you to make hardware changes?
4. Invite field personnel to trial any field data software program before purchasing. The data entry interface should be intuitive, flow logically with the patient assessment, and require little movement between higher data entry categories. Also make sure that the software prevents completion of a PCR without completion of all required fields.
5. Do you need field data software to communicate or synchronize with other hardware/software applications? For example, will the field data software receive data from the service CAD system about run times and patient loaded miles? Can you link data from the cardiac monitor data card to the field data software PCR? If you can that linkage needs to be easily done and quickly completed.
6. How will data and completed PCRs output from the field data software? Do you have options to run reports, fax or email PCRs, and query data for quality assurance projects?
Finally, like any software purchase, make sure to plan for initial and ongoing user training on how to properly use the program. Determine if the vendor will deliver that training or if you are responsible for the training. Calculate the cost of training – internal or vendor provided – into the purchase price of any software product.
Any other suggestions for purchasing field data software? Anything we missed in the list above? Leave a comment below or email products@ems1.com with your feedback.
