Last month, Rambam’s Department of Emergency & Urgent Care Medicine became the first in Israel to initiate a “paper- free” working process. The project was part of a general approach adopted by the hospital’s administration.  As part of this approach, RHCC implemented the use of comprehensive and computerized medical records for every patient. This arrangement is run by the Prometheus system, developed by the hospital’s computer division.

ER computerization involves significant changes in the team’s work processes and a re-definition of their positions.  Despite these changes, the system was quickly integrated.  According to Sara Tzafrir, director of the hospital’s Department of Information, Computerization and Communications, this represents a true revolution.  “In spite of the complex and intensive nature of the Department of Emergency & Urgent Care Medicine, the computerization will improve our ability to control what is happening in the unit, and will profoundly enhance our service and treatment,” says Tzafrir. “We have worked many years to fully computerize Rambam’s medical records, and this is a high point of the project.”

The Computerized Department of Emergency & Urgent Care Medicine at RHCC.       © Pioter Fliter.

“We are obligated by the growing numbers of Department of Emergency & Urgent Care Medicine patients to have computerized control,” says Dr Shlomi Israelit, director of Rambam’s ER. “The project increases our efficiency and makes information more accessible. Examinations, medical histories, problem alerts and more: all are at the team’s fingertips and all help in treating patients and ER operation.”

The system computerizes and networks all information created within the hospital, and transfers data to different personnel.   Accessibility to this information enables staff in every medical discipline to perform numerous tasks. The system highlights unusual occurrences and directs attention to specific patients, helping to regulate the workload and assign manpower accordingly.

The system checks all medication prescriptions and alerts staff in the case of irregularities. Along with previous hospitalization records, the system is networked to general health services:  when patients arrive at Rambam, the system can access their medical histories from outside the hospital.

This can be helpful if patients are unable to provide significant information, and can prevent
unnecessary medical examinations. Among its other important functions, the system sends CT and laboratory test results straight to the patient’s record.

The critical nature of the Emergency Room demanded carefully-planned backup systems, dispersed throughout all ER infrastructures. Thus, alongside every bed was placed a computer attached to a wireless network that enables the operation of “computerized cart” stations, eight computers on carts outfitted with antennas and electric batteries. As backup to the wireless network, a static computer was set up beside each reception station. In addition, all information is backed up so that if the system falls, information can be printed from a central computer creates “manual files” until the system is back up and running.