When paper forms learn “to walk”

In some areas of the health system, it is still necessary to fill out paper forms, sometimes also with carbon copies, like for example the emergency protocol of rescue organizations. Everyone knows that this limits readability. And the patient safety.

Digital forms provide more security and transparency. To collect medical data on-site and to integrate them in clinical and administrative processes without loss of time, also increases efficiency.

Who, what, how, what, where, and then?
Paper forms everywhere …

So far (Who?) the paramedics and emergency physicians of a rescue organization did their (what?) medical documentation (how?) with printed forms and had different forms for each type of operation. The manually filled-in paper forms and the carbon copies (where?) were then passed to various departments, where they were retyped (and then?) and entered into data bases. Time delay, transmission errors and inaccuracies by illegible handwriting and incomplete entries were an almost inevitable consequence.

It can be completely different …

To digitize a paper form is very simple – but the feature is to give the electronic form “skills” that simplify your work. The reports of the emergency medical services are good examples to demonstrate this.

  • Customized digital templates like for example for urgent emergency operations, transport of patients or tranport of blood bags can be accessed from a Windows app.
  • From analog to digital with HybridForms: The handy tablet with a special healthcare cover replaces paper stack. A built-in camera, a bar code scanner, and connections to external devices like ECG offer additional data integration.
  • All data is collected, nothing will be overlooked, because required fields are clearly marked and defined fields will be already prepopulated from the system. The mobile app continuously stores every intermediate results and the data automatically synchronize with the central server, so that the data capture can be interrupted at any time.
  • The on-site collected form data are immediately available on the central SharePoint server and can therefore be evaluated at once. HybridForms also supports the integration of workflows and data exchange with third-party systems such as KIS, SAP, and command and control centers.

… as practice shows.

Reference customers for HybridForms are for example the Federal State Government of Styria/Austria (emergency medical and rescue services) or the Hospital Group Spital STS in Switzerland (medical services). The savings on administration of more than 3,000 hours speak for themselves. Time that can be used for the essential tasks – the care for patients. The error rate is significantly reduced through transparent and continuously traceable documentation. This way projects can yield a quick return on investment within a few months.

Find out for yourself!

Press review: This article was published in the ÖKZ magazine – The Austrian health system, vol. 56 (2015) 10, page 23