Runsheet: Development Of A Self-Contained, Browser-Based Reference Tool For Medication Reconstitution And Clinical Reasoning In Paramedic Education

Abstract

Dominique Ball

Medication reconstitution-combining a powdered drug with a diluent to reach an administrable concentration-sits at the intersection of mathematics, pharmacology, and fine motor skill, and represents a persistent source of error in prehospital and hospital care alike. Paramedic students in particular have been shown to struggle with drug calculation generally, and reconstitution adds a further layer of concentration math, drug-specific technique, and infrequent practice on top of that existing weakness. This paper describes the development and design rationale of RUNSHEET, a free, self-contained, browser-based educational reference tool built to help paramedic students and EMS providers practice symptom-to-condition reasoning alongside medication dosing, reconstitution, and field treatment information. The tool uses a weighted matching system that takes user-entered signs and symptoms and returns ranked likely conditions, each linked to associated risk factors, field treatment steps, oxygen therapy guidance, and-where applicable-medication dosing and reconstitution instructions. This paper situates the tool's design within the existing literature on paramedic dosage calculation performance, the effect of stress on calculation accuracy, and the role of e-learning in supplementing hands-on skills training. No formal evaluation of student outcomes has yet been conducted; this paper is intended as a descriptive account of the tool and a foundation for future pilot evaluation.

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