Content provided by ZOLL
By Christa Lassen-Vogel
When emergency medical crews at Hackensack Meridian Health JFK University Medical Center (JFK EMS) rush into a 911 call, paperwork is the last thing they want to think about. Yet documentation remains one of the most time-consuming and universally disliked parts of the job – a task that often stretches into the end of already long shifts.
But over the past year, JFK EMS has undergone a quiet transformation. The adoption of ZOLL emsCharts NOW, a mobile-first documentation app, has reshaped how crews record patient care, how leaders analyze performance and how the organization approaches quality improvement.
A high-volume EMS organization in need of a modern solution
JFK EMS operates across five New Jersey counties with more than 600 team members and roughly 135,000 annual calls. It’s a complex mix of nonemergency transports, 911 BLS and ALS services, critical care units and two dispatch centers.
For Clinical Manager Jeff McBride, the strain on crews was clear. Providers documented care using a mix of computers, personal phones, paper scraps and whatever else was available in the moment.
“We wanted to give our providers a way to chart faster and more securely,” McBride said. “People use their phones for everything. Giving them a solution that actually works on a smartphone was a game changer.”
Cultivating a culture of progress
The first rollout was simple – and only partially successful. Many staff didn’t know the app existed, gave the app only a half-hearted try or flatly resisted changing the status quo. Education became critical. McBride began demonstrating the app during orientation, while field training officers reinforced training with new hires.
Ultimately, it was peer influence that really accelerated adoption. “As soon as people realize their chart time drops from 30 minutes to five, it’s easier to win them over,” said paramedic Jackson Rizan.
Some clinicians initially worried patients might interpret phone use as inattentiveness. But others quickly learned that explaining how the app supports documentation eased any concerns before they arose.
“I make a point to tell patients, ‘I’m working on your chart right now,’” Rizan explained.
Features that transformed clinicians’ workflow
The ZOLL emsCharts NOW mobile app truly is a game changer, thanks to an abundance of intuitive, time-saving capabilities that follow clinician’s natural workflow and streamline charting. Clinicians can start charts and document care as it happens, even locking and submitting charts from the field. Widely praised features include:
- A true mobile interface: The app is designed from the ground up specifically for smartphones, taking advantage of the device’s native features and making charting smoother, even in a moving ambulance.
- Secure photo capture: The app securely and compliantly captures power of attorney forms, DNR orders, medication lists and facility paperwork directly into the ePCR.
- Driver’s license and barcode scanning: Clinicians can scan a driver’s license or medical barcode to autopopulate demographic information in the ePCR.
- Reliable dictation: Accurate speech-to-text functionality dramatically speeds up narrative charting.
Data that drives quality and clinicial performance
A self-described data-driven department, JFK EMS frequently conducts quality assurance and quality improvement (QA/QI) reviews. Before adopting ZOLL emsCharts NOW, McBride saw that the old charting methods hindered crew performance.
Since adopting contemporaneous charting built on mobile technology, agency leadership collects more accurate, time-stamped data. This information is invaluable for conducting clearer and more collaborative case reviews. For example, trend graphs allow McBride to walk teams through airway management events, cardiac arrests and other critical calls in vivid detail – supporting improved patient care.
For JFK EMS, the shift to mobile documentation has improved accuracy, speed, patient communication and organizational culture. What started as a productivity tool has become a centerpiece of their strategy for continuous clinical and operational improvement.
Readers who would like to learn more about how the JFK EMS team reshaped their operations with mobile charting can watch a panel discussion, “Driven by Data: How JFK EMS Uses Integrated Technology to Achieve Clinical Excellence,” on the ZOLL website.
For more information, visit ZOLL.
About the author
Christa Lassen-Vogel is the senior manager, communications and brand strategy for ZOLL software and data solutions. She is a veteran health care and technology marketer specializing in branding, innovation and customer-centric content. Motivated by a strong desire to connect customer needs with meaningful solutions, she takes pride in immersing herself in her audience’s experience in order to provide authentic, valuable information and insight. Prior to joining ZOLL, Christa developed marketing and brand strategies to power the growth of companies ranging from early-stage B2B enterprises to Fortune 100 consumer brands. She has named products from surgical devices to oatmeal and was the award-winning creative force behind numerous digital, print and television campaigns.
