Service level web monitoring in the field management of emergencies.

Cardiologic Emergency Project is based on a hospital network in Milan, Italy, in order to provide patients with more efficient first aid immediately after the occurrence of an Acute Coronary Syndrome. The Project includes ECG transmission from running ambulances to the 118 telephone central help desk, and from there to the suitable hospital. Since the maximum total transfer time should stay within a few tens of minutes, and given that a number of different factors may cause very dangerous delays, the effective coordination of several healthcare systems, devices and organizations is critical. Monitoring of the activities on each component is a must. Cardiologic Emergency Project uses a Web application devoted to the monitoring and evaluation of the service levels. Web applications allow the quantitative monitoring of the durations of extra-hospital operations. Several types of tables and graphics are automatically filled for the best care of the patient. For example, given a lengthy total time request by a satisfactory full ECG transmission, the system allows analysis of the ECG machine, of the cellular phone partial-only coverage along the ambulance pathway, of the transfer time in rush hours, etc., to determine which elements in the process can be improved to avoid future delays.