Investigating Challenges of Pre-Hospital Emergency Services Information System with a Systemic Approach: Case Study from the South of Iran

Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a vital part of the health system, which given the emergency nature of its services, is an information-sensitive area. But most information systems have challenges in providing this information. This study examines the challenges of a pre-hospital emergency information system (EMSIS) with a systematic approach. In this descriptive applied study, the challenges of the EMSIS of Hormozgan EMS Management Center were investigated and extracted using a checklist (14 questions) from a systematic approach, namely, considering the type of information system in terms of mechanization, type of data, data processing method, hardware and software, involved people as well as various types of reports and information. Data were analyzed manually. The main challenge of current system was the lack of an electronic information system and the manual managing of information. Also, the problem with collecting and recording all types of audio, video and text data and the lack of up-to-date hardware and software for electronic exchange of emergency information were another challenges. In terms of systematic approach, the studied information system did not utilize from the capabilities of an electronic system, which, due to the positive outcomes of this type of systems and to increase the pre-hospital emergency capabilities, should be planned to implement electronic systems in studied EMS.