Should we fly or drive? The use of a computer-based system (ANTSS) for resource utilization

Objective methods are needed to accurately allocate limited resources for the transport of critically ill patients. This manuscript presents the implementation of a novel internet-based charting system that employs a background physiologic acuity scoring system. Based on this score, the system, named ANTSS (Assessment of Neonates for Transport Scoring Software), assigns a color code to the patient (red, yellow, green). The system, based on the color coding, recommends a particular transport vehicle. ANTSS was initially evaluated using a survey to assess the systems effect on workload and the usefulness of the physiologic scoring. The survey was administered to the physicians who input the initial information. An objective count of the fields entered by the physicians using our older handwritten method was compared with the number of fields completed using ANTSS. Finally, a second survey was administered to members of the transport team to evaluate whether ANTSS-generated charts provided improved patient information to the end users of the information. The results from the surveys demonstrate that ANTSS improves the patient information provided to the transport team, provides the physician with useful objective information concerning the mode of transport, and increases the amount of completed fields in the transport record.