 A case for WEMSISS
The Washington EMS information system, WEMSIS, is the States prehospital data repository for electronic patient care records (ePCR).
Participation in WEMSIS supports:
- Description of statewide incidents of medical and injury
emergencies.
- Identification of quality improvement measures.
- Evaluation of measures for process and policy improvement.
- Internal and external benchmarking.
- Local and Regional leadership through data competency and
evidence based decision making.
Electronic prehospital data gives instant access to existing records. It allows services, counties, and regions to identify best practices and improve EMS response and patient outcomes. Likewise, many services give access to their destination hospitals to enhance the continuity of care.
We need your support and participation to ensure our EMS system reflects the spirit of care we aspire to provide.
Here is a brief list of the benefits experienced with participating in
WEMSIS:
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Improving patient care and outcomes
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Providing a local, regional, and state picture of
what is experienced in the field as well as the demands placed upon our EMS System
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Discovery of common issues faced in responding
to and working in the field
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Access to several standard QI measures and
reports in areas such as:
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Improving the EMS curriculum
Frequently Asked Questions
What is WEMSIS?
The Washington EMS Information System, WEMSIS, is the
States prehospital data repository for electronic patient care
records (ePCR).
What prehospital data elements are collected?
WEMSIS is based on a national standard for EMS data collection
and reporting,
NEMSIS. While specific emphasis is
placed on some data elements, WEMSIS has the capacity to
store all NEMSIS elements. Here is a
list of elements currently requested by the State of Washington.
Why use WEMSIS?
Electronic prehospital data collection assists service, county,
region, and state efforts to monitor, evaluate, and assess field
experiences, patient care, and the EMS system as a whole.
What does it cost me to participate in WEMSIS?
Access and submission to WEMSIS is free. In many cases,
those services already using a vendor to collect electronic
data can laterally submit their data to WEMSIS.
How do I participate in WEMSIS?
WEMSIS is a web based program. We provide many services access to a
EMS/Fire Service account to begin collecting data electronically. Other
services using their own NEMSIS Gold compliant vendor laterally submit
data to WEMSIS. Follow the three steps outlined below.
Can WEMSIS report both EMS and fire data?
Yes. Services around the state are using WEMSIS for
both prehospital and
NFIRS data
collection. The compatibility between WEMSIS and ERS Reporting, the States
repository for NFIRS data, should make laterally submitting data easy.
How do County MPDs or Destination Hospitals access
data in WEMSIS?
We developed additional access levels to accommodate
and enhance such data exchange. A service may create
access accounts for their MPD or a destination hospital
at any time. Many services are currently benefiting
from such partnerships in data exchange.
Which software vendors have an interface with
WEMSIS?
 As WEMSIS is based upon NEMSIS V2, vendors should
possess NEMSIS Gold compliance. Follow this list for a list of
NEMSIS gold-compliant vendors.
Some vendors may have NEMSIS Gold compliance; however, a NEMSIS/WEMSIS
module has additional costs over the basic vendor software. Be
sure to check with potential vendors for any additional costs that may
be charged for a NEMSIS/WEMSIS module.
I currently use another vendor to collect data
and I am having issues exporting data to WEMSIS!
Many compatibility issues have been
due to data validity. In data entry, the use of special characters
(&, <, >, ", and ') cause issues with data validity when exporting your
data in XML format. Gold-compliance requires XML format
functionality. As such, the only fix for such data issues is to
either avoid special characters or use the following equivalents from
the ampersand (&) to include the semicolon (;).
- & = &
- < = <
- > = >
- " = "
- ' = '
Begin NOW!
We know the field of emergency care is rap-idly requiring electronic patient records. Quality Improvement is just one reason for this transition. Our goal is to assist you in making that transition.
Step 1: If you currently use existing
electronic patient records
Step 2: Contact us
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Email us at
wemsis@doh.wa.gov and we will create an account for you and/or your service.
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You will be asked to provide some information
about yourself such as role in your service, contact information,
etc.
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You may be asked to provide information on your
service such as service ID, address, transport or non-transport
status, etc.
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In some cases, to secure the privacy and
integrity of service accounts, a known sponsor from your service or
EMS Region may be required.
Step 3: Familiarize yourself with
WEMSIS
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Web access to WEMSIS can be found at
www.wemsis.org.
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You will find
ImageTrend, the web provider of
WEMSIS helpful in that they provide comprehensive manuals and
training videos.
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Ask us. In many cases, we can assist your
transition in using WEMSIS.
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We are exploring new ways to provide training
opportunities in this economic climate. We will announce when
such training becomes available.
Contact Information
| |
WEMSIS Program
Manager
Primary:
wemsis@doh.wa.gov
Secondary: (360) 236-2867
Fax: (360) 236-2829 |
Washington State
Department of Health
Community Health Systems
- Washington EMS Information System
PO Box 47853
Olympia, WA 98504-7853 |
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