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• PreMIS lifts off

PreMIS Lifts Off

While the information contained in this news article was current and accurate when we posted it, it may not necessarily represent current WVOEMS policy or procedure. If you have any questions, please contact our office at 304-558-3956.

Posted: Saturday, August 1, 2009 9:47 AM

History was made January 7, 2009, as Paramedic Mike Alt of the NIOC Sugar Grove Fire and Emergency Services Department in Pendleton County submitted West Virginia's first electronic patient care record.

The record was successfully submitted through WVPreMIS, West Virginia's premiere Electronic Patient Care Record (EPCR) data submission and management system.

The Electronic Patient Care Record is designed to replace the current paper-based record that squads must submit after each response. The new electronic format will open the door to data and quality analysis, and will allow squads and the EMS system to focus on performance metrics with the goal to improve the quality of pre-hospital care in the State.

WVPreMIS, the de-facto standard EPCR system for West Virginia, was designed and developed by the EMS Performance Improvement Center (EMSPIC) of North Carolina.  The West Virginia Office of EMS began its partnership with EMSPIC in the winter of 2007, and has been working to implement West Virginia's unique standards into the system. Access to WVPreMIS will be provided to squads free of charge in order to boost adoption in the State and provide a benchmark for EPCR system quality.

While a handful of small set-backs have been presented during the course of development, EMSPIC has worked diligently to deliver a production-ready product for first quarter 2009 deployment.

Squads planning their move to the electronic patient care record platform can either adopt WVPreMIS or implement one of West Virginia's certified third-party EPCR solutions. Only certified systems  and WVPreMIS may submit electronic run data in West Virginia.

Squads are encouraged to talk with the West Virginia State Office of EMS, approved vendors, and the EMS Performance Improvement Center to determine the best solution to fit their needs.