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	Corporate Report
DEPARTMENT/	CAO's Office
DIVISION	Emergency Medical Services	REPORT NO.	2003.111
DATE PREPARED	March 31, 2003	FILE NO.
MEETING DATE	April 7, 2003
SUBJECT	Transfer of Funds from Reserve

REPORT SUMMARY

To recommend the transfer of $20,000 from the “EMS Vehicle & Equipment, and Facilities Reserve Fund” to fully implement the electronic patient charting system proposed in the 2003 budget.

In the spring of 2002, local paramedics participated in a provincial evaluation of electronic patient charting. This involved the use of laptop computers and specialized software. Feedback from staff and management was quite positive on the value of this concept. Concerns were identified with the durability of laptops in the EMS environment. An estimated implementation cost of $100,000 was budgeted for in the fall of 2002. This amount was approved by Council’s budget process.

Since the first trial with laptops, new technology has been introduced and resulted in the much smaller Tablet PC. These ruggedized mini computers can fulfill the full functions of the laptops at about half the size and weight. They will fit in paramedic bags or stretcher pouches and use touch screen technology. They are expected to be longer lasting than laptops. These tablets are also more expensive than laptops.

It is concluded that because of the cost of the improved technology, EMS should use $20,000 from the EMS Vehicle & Equipment, and Facilities Reserve Fund to implement this project.

THAT with respect to Report No. 2003.111 (Emergency Medical Services), we recommend that the transfer of $20,000 from the EMS Vehicle & Equipment, and Facilities Reserve Fund to the EMS 2003 Capital Budget for the purposes of implementing an electronic patient charting system be approved.

None

PREPARED BY:

Jocelyn Bourgoin, Director

This report signed and verified by Greg Alexander, Acting City Manager, City of Thunder Bay on April 2, 2003