Computers in the Workplace
I picked public safety for the industry in connection with the functions of computers.
Many years ago,
I had the honor of working on a project supporting a new technology (at the
time) for the local Fire Department which was introducing mobile units on each
apparatus. The goal was to replace all paper forms with these mobile units so
they could enter patient care information while at the scene for a faster
response time and the ability to input the patients’ symptoms. The units that were
selected for this project were Panasonic Toughbooks which are rugged laptops
for outdoor use. According to pcmag.com, these were “build to be beaten up”.
When first
introduced to the department, there was a lot of hesitation from many of the
staff due to the new technology and being used to the old way. There were a few
technical issues as well such as connectivity, issues with the patient care
software, and communication with the different hospitals. After some time and
improvements to those issues, the project was well on its way and finally
accepted by the department.
I feel it is
imperative for the public safety department to be computer literate to work
with the new technology. Having these Toughbooks on hand has been extremely
beneficial not only for the patient but for the department as well. There
is no longer a need to fill out all the paperwork at the station which in turn
allows for more time to prepare for the next call. I feel the technology in
this field will only get better in time in the next 10 years. With facial and
fingerprint recognition becoming more used, there could be the possibility of
just scanning a patient's face or finger which could automatically bring up
their chart history. It could immediately show the patient's previous calls,
current medication, and any allergies along with emergency contacts. The next
10 years hold so much potential for technology within the public safety
department to where they could have the ability to reduce their response time
and patient care to an all-time low which could lead to more lives saved.
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