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Continuous Development of a Major Incident In-Hospital Victim Tracking and Tracing System, Withstanding the Challenges of Time

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 September 2016

J.J. Mark Haverkort ,
Jos H. Bouman ,
Jelte D.D. Wind  and
Luke P.H. Leenen
J.J. Mark Haverkort*
Affiliation:
Major Incident Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Jos H. Bouman
Affiliation:
Major Incident Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Jelte D.D. Wind
Affiliation:
Major Incident Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Luke P.H. Leenen
Affiliation:
Major Incident Hospital, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands Department of Surgery and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to J.J.M. Haverkort, MD, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Calamiteitenhospitaal/Major Incident Hospital, Heidelberglaan 100, Suite B.00.118, 3584 CX Utrecht, the Netherlands (e-mail: [email protected]).
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Abstract

Objective

To describe the development of the Patient Barcode Registration System (PBRS) over time and confirm the usability and feasibility of the system’s latest version during a large trauma drill.

Methods

The development of a PBRS started around 1993 aiming to provide an effective tool for patient registration, tracking, and tracing during major incidents. The PBRS uses wristbands with barcodes to follow and register patients in the care process. During a large trauma drill, 120 patients and 40 relatives were registered and traced in the system. Errors in registration, tracking, and tracing of persons were registered.

Results

Of the 120 patients, no patient data were lost and patients could be traced in real time throughout the treatment process by the command team. Strategic decisions could be made based on the information provided by the system. Patient relatives were easily matched and government agencies received regular updates on the number and characteristics of the patients.

Conclusion

The PBRS is a usable, feasible, and sustainable patient tracking and tracing tool to be used during the hospital response to major incidents. Lessons learned during the last 20 years include the need for continuous updates to withstand the challenge of time. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:244–250)

Keywords

barcode registrationdisastermass casualty incidentmajor incident hospital responsepatient tracking and tracingpreparedness
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 11 , Issue 2 , April 2017 , pp. 244 - 250
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2016 

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