Development of Innovative EMS Plus Online Platform for Informing Emergency Patients with Information Before Arriving at the Emergency Department: A Pilot Study

Abstract

The research and development aimed to enhance a special channel for informing emergency patients about their medical emergencies (Innovative EMS Plus) and to determine the feasibility and satisfaction of utilizing the Innovative EMS Plus for informing emergency patients that needed emergency care. There were three processes of conducting the study included: (1) situational and need analysis for developing the Innovative EMS Plus with 29 emergency patients and Pattani hospital utilizer, and 10 officers who provide emergency medical services, including physicians, nurses, and supporting units; (2) Trial the Innovative EMS Plus by testing feasibility with 33 officers who provide emergency medical services that have some networking in three southern border provinces by dividing for testing feasibility of program with 23 persons, and testing the efficacy of the program with 10 persons; and (3) Evaluate the satisfaction of utilizing the program with 23 emergency medical personnels who have some networking in three southern border provinces and 103 health community volunteers who have network with the hospital totaling 126 persons. The instruments used in this study included measurement of perspective and the need for emergency medical care, and the feasibility and satisfaction of utilizing the program instrument. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics.

The results found that the Innovative EMS Plus, which was created on an online platform, consisted of the following three primary parts: (1) A person who reported an emergency issue; (2) information about reporting to the emergency department; and (3) knowledge package of emergency management for population. The overall and item scores for the feasibility of utilizing the program were in the medium range (M=3.25, S.D. = 0.75). The highest score was the use of knowledge from the system's knowledge package for recommending basic emergency medical care. The overall and item-by-item satisfaction scores after utilizing the program were quite high. This newly created innovation provides a channel for emergency patients who need travel independently to the hospital to seek emergency medical treatment. However, further research should be carried out to assess the efficacy and outcomes of patients after utilizing the innovation.