Process Mapping: Hospital Response Chain (A Question for the course of Introduction to Information System)
When someone calls 9â1â1, there are a series of actions and responses that get triggered, collectively known as the preâhospital response chain. This chain is described below.
The Call for Help
When an individual experiences a medical, they typically call 9â1â1 for help. It is important that the patient stays on the phone to provide the necessary information about the emergency situation. The patient relays important information to both 9â1â1 and the health communication centre.
9â1â1 Emergency Service
The 9â1â1 dispatcher's responsibility is to take the 9â1â1 call for help and determine if the situation requires police, firefighters or ambulance services. In some emergency situations, more than one service can be dispatched2. The 9â1â1 dispatcher also needs to identify the patientâs location so that the appropriate type of ambulance can be dispatched (land, air or water)3. To make these assessments, there are a series of questions that are asked. The patient plays an important role in answering these questions. The 9â1â1 dispatcher collects all of the information needed to make these assessments and enters it into the 9â1â1 system. Once all the pertinent information has been collected, the information and call are then immediately transferred to the health communication centre. Otherwise, the dispatcher continues to work with the patient on understanding the situation.
Health Communication Centre
The health communication centreâs (HCC) responsibility is to review the information sent by the 9â1â1 dispatcher and speak to the patient to assess the nature of the situation and, most importantly, prioritize the response of the ambulance services. Additional information from the patient is typically required to do so. Prioritization is key in situations where there are multiple emergency situations. If the HCC dispatcher determines that the situation is urgent, the medical and emergency information, as captured in the HCC system, is transferred to the ambulance service, and the required number of ambulances dispatched to the scene. In situations that are not considered urgent, alternative methods of transportation are then arranged.
Ambulance Service
An ambulance service has a series of responsibilities when they are dispatched. The ambulance service is alerted to the emergency via their onâboard system. Using the location information provided, the ambulance service is then responsible for ensuring the appropriate route is taken using the navigational component of their onâboard system. Depending on the weather conditions, location, and time of day, the best route may change. Once the ambulance service arrives at the scene, they are responsible for assessing the situation and determining whether the patient needs to be stabilized at the scene first. Depending on location, assessment, and priority, the ambulance service first determines which hospital is best suited for the patient. If the patient requires stabilization, the ambulance service will work with that hospital to stabilize the patient. Specifically, they speak with the doctors at the hospital using their handsâfree mobile phones to relay the status of the patient and to receive stabilization instructions. The patient is not transported until they are in a stable condition. Once the patient is stabilized, the ambulance service continues to work with the doctors to determine whether the patientâs situation is still critical and requires hospital care. If that is no longer the case, the ambulance service will return to their dispatch station and complete a vehicle and supply report and a scene report.
On route to the hospital, the ambulance service will relay all critical information to the destination hospital using their onâboard system as well as calling them to provide an updated patient status and estimated time of arrival. This enables the hospital to complete all the necessary preparations. When the ambulance service arrives at the hospital with the patient, the patientâs status is verbally transferred to the receiving physician at that hospital. At this point, the physician and team of health professionals assess and care for the patient.
After the patient transfer is complete, there are a series of reports that need to be written and submitted by the ambulance services: 1, Patient Care and Transfer Report; 2, Scene Report (if needed) 3, Patient Invoice 4, Vehicle and Supply Report
The patient care and transfer report is used by the hospital to fill in the patient chart and can be used to determine onâgoing treatment. The ambulance service completes this report before leaving the hospital using their onâboard system and electronically submits it to the hospital. When this report is created, a scene report is not needed. A scene report is only created when the patient is not transferred to a local hospital, but assessment and care are provided at the scene. The scene report is for internal tracking purposes.
A patient invoice will be sent to the patient through the mail by the ambulance service: the typical cost for an ambulance service is $45 but if the receiving physician deemed the trip to be unnecessary, the bill will increase to $240. This information is provided by the physician in his verbal report to the ambulance service before they leave the hospital.
Finally, a vehicle and supply report will be created, for internal purposes, to track vehicle mileage, gas along with wear and tear. If there are any concerns with the vehicle or if maintenance is required the vehicle is sent to the fleet garage along with a paper report documenting the concerns. The vehicle is returned to the ambulance service when the repairs or maintenance are completed.
An inventory of the supplies on board the ambulance is taken and a list of the items needed to be replenished is electronically sent to the medical supplies warehouse via EDI for restocking. It is essential that those items are shipped quickly so that the ambulance is prepared for the next emergency. The ambulance always has reserves on board, but keeping those reserves replenished ensures they will not run out of supplies in an emergency situation.
Requirement: Draw the Process Map for the Hospital Chain Scenario
(Note: 1, Assume that the individual can call for 9â1â1 on their own. 2 In assignment we only have to focus on the land ambulance service; subâprocesses for the other services do not need to be elaborated on.)
