Increased situation awareness in major incidents-radio frequency identification (RFID) technique: a promising tool.

INTRODUCTION: In mass-casualty situations, communications and information management to improve situational awareness is a major challenge for responders. In this study, the feasibility of a prototype system that utilizes commercially available, low-cost components, including Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and mobile phone technology, was tested in two simulated mass-casualty incidents. METHODS: The feasibility and the direct benefits of the system were evaluated in two simulated mass-casualty situations: one in Finland involving a passenger ship accident resulting in multiple drowning/hypothermia patients, and another at a major airport in Sweden using an aircraft crash scenario. Both simulations involved multiple agencies and functioned as test settings for comparing the disaster management's situational awareness with and without using the RFID-based system. Triage documentation was done using both an RFID-based system, which automatically sent the data to the Medical Command, and a traditional method using paper triage tags. The situational awareness was measured by comparing the availability of up-to date information at different points in the care chain using both systems. RESULTS: Information regarding the numbers and status or triage classification of the casualties was available approximately one hour earlier using the RFID system compared to the data obtained using the traditional method. CONCLUSIONS: The tested prototype system was quick, stable, and easy to use, and proved to work seamlessly even in harsh field conditions. It surpassed the paper-based system in all respects except simplicity of use. It also improved the general view of the mass-casualty situations, and enhanced medical emergency readiness in a multi-organizational medical setting. The tested technology is feasible in a mass-casualty incident; further development and testing should take place.

Implementing RFID technology in a novel triage system during a simulated mass casualty situation.

The purpose of this study is to determine the applicability of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and commercial cellular networks to provide an online triage system for handling mass casualty situations. This was tested by a using a pilot system for a simulated mass casualty situation during a military field exercise. The system proved to be usable. Compared to the currently used system, it also dramatically improves the general view of mass casualty situations and enhances medical emergency readiness in a military medical setting. The system can also be adapted without any difficulties by the civilian sector for the management of mass casualty disasters.

Impacts of physicians' usage of a mobile information system.

Healthcare professionals are increasingly using handheld devices in their practice. The applications for the handhelds are numerous and their usage contexts and environments vary. But the impact these mobile systems have on physicians' work has been somewhat unclear. This paper sets out to explain the impacts of a mobile information system by presenting findings from an interview study conducted on users of a medical information system running on a Nokia 9210 Communicator. The impact on the work routines of the users was rather limited, despite the generally positive attitude towards the system. The actual usage patterns and the settings in which the system is used vary, and along with these the perceived impacts of the system on the work habits and the routines of the users.

Understanding physician acceptance of mobile technology: insights from two telephone interviews in Finland.

This paper sets out to investigate physicians' perceptions and usage regarding a new mobile medical information system in a pilot trial in the Finnish healthcare sector. Two sets of data were gathered in June and October 2003 by telephone interviews. The physicians interviewed had positive perceptions of the mobile system, and started to use it frequently in their work. They showed few negative experiences of using a Nokia Communicator. They favoured using mobile technology as a way to improve spreading medical knowledge. The main contents of the system, the Evidence-Based Medical Guidelines and the Pharmaca Fennica (the pharmacopoeia), were crucial for using the system. Some differences in physicians' behaviour across time were also found. Implications for system improvement are discussed.