Ambulance data system improves care

Database system logs case information and treatment histories

South Central Ambulance Service's reporting system project is helping it handle the increasing volumes of patient data.

The Clinical Audit Reporting System (CARS), developed in conjunction with e-Docs UK, provides information about patients' conditions and all interventions by clinical staff.

CARS extracts relevant information from scanned documents and stores it on an internet-based database. From here it can be accessed 24 hours a day by authorised staff to audit and review interventions carried out by individual ambulance crews.

South Central Ambulance Service clinical effectiveness manager David Sherwood said: 'CARS is a ground-breaking development that will significantly improve the operational and clinical efficiency of Ambulance Services throughout the UK.'

Ambulance crews can log-in to the system to review forms relating to particular case types such as falls, glycaemic emergency, asthma and strokes. Images of documents can be displayed or printed without compromising confidentiality or adding to the workload of the clinical department.

The next phase of development will focus on demand management, identifying 'hot spots' where there are regular accidents or injuries caused.

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