OPERATOR-ORIENTED EVALUATION METHODS FOR MEDICAL EMERGENCY RADIO SYSTEMS.

Reliability of the communications equipment is found to improve to a high level after an initial ″shake down″ period, both in terms of component and human reliability. Evaluation methods include testing knowledge of use of radio operators, recording and analysis of radio messages and detailed observation of the time history of emergency department operations by physician-observers. Observation of almost 400 emergency ambulance runs show that the emergency departments are usually well prepared, although this is not always perceived by the ambulance staff. One third of all radio calls from ambulance to hospital are answered by nonmedical staff. On 70% of all calls the ambulance staff is judged to have provided adequate information on the patient. Recommendations for changes include eliminating nonemergency use of the radio, removing particular areas of local poor reception, institution of planned check-out and back-up procedures for radio equipment and changes in the radio layout within vehicles and hospitals.