Prehospital time indicators before and after the implementation of an electronic information management system (EIMS) : a cross-sectional study

Background: The prehospital emergency system faces significant challenges, including a lack of coordination, primarily due to poor communication of information. An electronic information management system (EIMS) was introduced in Iran to improve coordination. Objectives: This study aims to assess the impact of the system on the time indicators in prehospital emergency services in Kermanshah, Iran. Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study conducted in 2022, time indicators were compared for 900 PCRs: 450 from the paper-based system (2016–2017) and 450 from the electronic PCR system (2017–2018). The time indicatorsincluded dispatch, filed, and hospital time indicators. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 17. Results: The triage time (94.1 ± 40.3 s) and delay time (111.9 ± 58.8 s) were significantly longer than the standard times (90 and 75 s, respectively). In the paper-based system, response (8.07 ± 3.6 min), scene (16.3 ± 8.2 min), and transportation times (13.07 ± 8.3 min) were shorter, than those in the EIMS: response (11.0 ± 6.3 min), scene (17.9 ± 9.3 min), and transportation (16.7 ± 12.06 min) times in EIMS (p <.05). However, other times indicators were significantly shorter in the EIMS compared to the paper-based system (p <.05). Conclusions: Except for triage and delay indices, all time indicators in both systems were significantly lower than the standard indicators. Implementation of the EIMS may face several technical and organizational challenges. It is important that these challenges be carefully considered.