EMS Protocol Mobile Website: Improving Delivery of Emergency Medical Services through the Innovative Use of Mobile Technology

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2015

In July 2013, Brandon Mitchell, Durham County’s Administration and Finance Chief for Emergency Medical Services (EMS), approached the county’s Information Services and Technology (IST) staff with a challenge: to find a way to fully automate the county’s emergency management protocols, policies and procedures documentation process electronically, using a web application that could be easily accessed by emergency personnel across multiple mobile platforms. IST Applications Service Developer Mickey Mazarick, Project Manager Ivan Silis, and IST student intern Sterling Mason responded to the challenge with the creation of Durham County’s EMS Protocol Mobile Website, a mobile-optimized web application that not only documents all of the state’s emergency medical protocols, policies and procedures, but also links all information EMS specialists need to more quickly administer patient care in an intuitive, mobile-friendly design. By utilizing internal staff resources and integrating the protocols, procedures, and policies information into an electronic format easily accessed by EMS staff and partners, development and operational costs were kept to a minimum. Since its launch in July 2013, the EMS Protocol Mobile Website has saved money while strengthening the service provided to citizens and community. By electronically automating the EMS protocol, policy and procedure process efficiency and quality of service delivery is improved, and operational costs are reduced. The website was built by internal IST staff at a cost of less than $10,000. Yearly printing costs of $10,000 were eliminated with the integration of the EMS protocol, policy and procedure information to an electronic format. The EMS Protocol Mobile Website is a win-win for Durham County and its citizenry and serves as an easily replicated model for other counties in North Carolina with a need to improve efficiency and feasibility in delivery of emergency medical services.