Design and Implementation of an Automated Ambulance Dispatch System
Chapter One
Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of this research is to build a dispatch system that will help to speedup the rate of dispatching ambulance in order to carter for an emergency in the society. The objectives of the system include:
(i) To provide fastest ambulance services to the victims of any emergency incidents.
(ii) To decrease the amount of paper work must be file.
(iii) To help the company ensure that provide an adequate amount of ambulance for each of the service.
(iv) To enable management track the status of each ambulance and the ambulance activity.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Introduction
This chapter focuses on the review of related literature on the subject matte. A lot of write-up and publication have been done through media i.e. newspaper, magazine, journal, internet and text. Concerning the issues of ambulance dispatch system.
According to Chung (2007): The dispatches system is designed to implement a solution to an application domain which consists of an ambulance dispatch system. This will be achieved by delivering a software system that will interact with the corresponding actors, such as a caller that dials 911, a dispatchers ambulances, the ambulance, a relative looking for information about the patient, and an emergency room.
The system will be an online based software system that can be accessed from any computer with a connection to internet. The solution implemented will allow better of an emergency situation by properly tracking the case from the moment the call is placed until the patient is delivered to an emergency room, by providing the means necessary for the dispatcher and the ambulance to communicate with each other to exchange the necessary information and by providing the electronic resources needed to complete all tasks required, and providing case status to a third party (relative).
Bernd and Allen (1999) say that currently there is no software architecture for the ambulance dispatch system. The current system is a phone paper based system that is outdated and unorganized. When the dispatcher receives an emergency call she/he then radio to an ambulance to see if there are available to take the emergency. If they are not available she/he must continue to track down an ambulance that is available. Once finding an available ambulance the dispatcher then communicates to the EMT the location of the emergency and status of the injured parties. This information is recorded by hand by the non-driving EMT. Once finished at the scene the EMT must then radio near by hospitals to ensure by hospital can accommodate their patient. Once dropping the patient off at the hospital, the EMT must then notify the dispatcher of the final details of the patients condition and other pertinent information about the case. The dispatcher records this information by hand and then files the necessary paperwork.
This current system leaves a paper that is difficult to follow later if necessary. In addition, precious time is lost as the dispatcher attempts to locate available ambulances and hospitals. The lost time could ultimately be the difference between life and death for the patient. Our new software architecture will address these issues by allowing the dispatcher to always have available a real time list of available ambulances and hospitals. Our software architecture will also electronically send all necessary information to the ambulance along with a GPS map of the emergency location. This will both remove the unnecessary paper trail and allow the EMTS to focus on handling the emergency.
Neumann (1990) stated that ambulance service computer system problems using London ambulance service continues to have software problems using London ambulance service continues to have software problems with it emergency dispatch system. Impliond system (being developed by data track and systems options, with Apricot hardware) crashed on it first training session. Last year, an earlier system failed two major tests, and was scuttled; the service sued the vendor.
CHAPTER THREE
SYSTEM DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
Introduction
The design phase is very important in any development for an agree of creativities and precision. It determines to a large extent the successful implementation and efficiency with which the system defined.
A badly designed system will produce incorrect, disastrous and misleading output and this might be problematic to the designer and the users. It is therefore important that the designer of a system should, do it with utmost care.
Research Methodology
In this study, the methodology used in achieving the aims and objectives of the study areas follows:
- Review of related literature
- Interviews and observations of procedures and activities of the dispatch system.
- Studying the operation of ambulance dispatch firms.
- Design ambulance dispatch information system.
- Implementation of the system using or suitable programming language (i.e. VB (6.0). And it is also carrying out through personal contact and interview with the staff of Federal Road Safety, Uyo. All data used in designing the system were gathered from this source.
CHAPTER FOUR
SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION AND DOCUMENTATION
Introduction
Implementation and documentation is an important phase in every system design. System flow diagram, choice of programming language and description of some data basic files.
Documentation is giving a detail of all the information necessary to provide the use with the understanding of the purpose and how to use the designed program for system so as to achieve its objectives. This help in carrying out further research and improvement on the system. Also comprehensive information about the new system and it working procedures are outlined so that modification can be done on the system without studying the entire system. In view of this, the documentation of this project is done in two section namely:
- Identification
- Users information
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
This chapter marks the end of this project. It show the conclusion of this work in details; it also summarizes the whole work in project starting from the first chapter to the end. It is in this very chapter that the work has being recommended being that everything has been successfully completed.
Limitations of the Study
The limitations of this study are as follows:
(i) Lack of research material on the research topic in the polytechnic and public libraries.
(ii) Limited time to follow up the research exhaustively due to the research busy schedule academically.
(iii) Limited fund to use in researching in terms of sourcing for resource materials online.
Summary
This project started by looking into the essence of this study from the motivation point of view. I conducted feasibility study and research of activities and duties of federal road safety, Uyo. The aim was to create a system that will aid the rate of dispatching of ambulance. The researcher gathered data through primary and secondary sources which includes textbooks, journals and the internet, the research went further to implement the software using Visual Basic as the programming language.
Conclusion
Conclusively, ambulance dispatch system was created to increase the speed of dispatch ambulance to any emergency point, the system greatly decreases the amount of paper work that must be filed and also aid the federal road safety, Uyo to provide an adequate amount of ambulance for each of the service area by enabling the management to track the status of each ambulance. The system has better facilities and more advantage than manual method in the area of speed.
Recommendations
Based on the finding of this research on ambulance dispatch system used in federal road safety, Uyo. The following is recommended:
- The staff should be computer literature and competent enough to manipulate the system developed.
- The federal road safety should introduced the computerization storage medium, which will serve as reference point and in turn ascertain their reliability.
REFERENCES
- Bernd Bruegge and Allen H. Dutoit, (1999) “Phone paper based system” warranty. Widely publication.
- Brian Randell (1992) Trouble at the London ambulance service London, Jimel publication.
- Lawrence Chung (2007) Introduction “To ambulance dispatch software architecture”. Kliptocy. Intel press.
- Peter G. Neumann (1992) Problems in ambulance dispatch system. Thaphter London. Marksolid paper press.
