Changes in COVID-19 IgM and IgG antibodies in emergency medical technicians (EMTs)

Abstract Introduction Crowding of the emergency departments is an increasing problem. Many patients with an exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often treated in the emergency departments for a very short period before discharged to their homes. It is possible that this treatment could take place in the patients’ homes with sufficient diagnostics supporting the treatment. In an effort to keep the diagnostics and treatment of some of these patients in their homes and thus to reduce the patient load at the emergency departments, we implemented a prehospital treat-and-release strategy based on ultrasonography and blood testing performed by emergency medical technicians (EMT) or paramedics (PM) in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. Method EMTs and PMs were enrolled in a six-hour educational program covering ultrasonography of the lungs and point of care blood tests. During the seasonal peak of COPD exacerbations (October 2018 – May 2019) all patients who were treated by the ambulance crews for respiratory insufficiency were screened in the ambulances. If the patient had uncomplicated COPD not requiring immediate transport to the hospital, ultrasonographic examination of the lungs, measurements of C-reactive protein and venous blood gases analyses were performed. The response to the initial treatment and the results obtained were discussed via telemedical consultation with a prehospital anaesthesiologist who then decided to either release the patient at the scene or to have the patient transported to the hospital. The primary outcome was strategy feasibility. Results We included 100 EMTs and PMs in the study. During the study period, 771 patients with respiratory insufficiency were screened. Uncomplicated COPD was rare as only 41patients were treated according to the treat-and-release strategy. Twenty of these patients (49%) were released at the scene. In further ten patients, technical problems were encountered hindering release at the scene. Conclusion In a few selected patients with suspected acute exacerbations of COPD, it was technically and organisationally feasible for EMTs and PMs to perform prehospital POCT-ultrasound and laboratory testing and release the patients following treatment. None of the patients released at the scene requested a secondary ambulance within the first 48 h following the intervention.

Download Full-text

Ergonomic assessment of musculoskeletal risk among a sample of Portuguese emergency medical technicians

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics ◽

10.1016/j.ergon.2020.103077 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 82 ◽

pp. 103077

Author(s):

Constança Davison ◽

Teresa Patrone Cotrim ◽

Susana Gonçalves

Keyword(s):

Emergency Medical Technicians ◽

Emergency Medical

Download Full-text

Evaluation of a sequential structured educational curriculum for emergency medical technicians in airway management

Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology ◽

10.4103/0970-9185.142812 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 492

Author(s):

Satyen Parida ◽

SandeepKumar Mishra ◽

AshokShankar Badhe

Keyword(s):

Airway Management ◽

Emergency Medical Technicians ◽

Educational Curriculum ◽

Emergency Medical

Download Full-text

Abstract 354: A Prediction Model for Patients With Emergency Medical Technicians Witnessed Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.138.suppl_2.354 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 138 (Suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Ming-Ju Hsieh ◽

Wen-Chu Chiang ◽

Wei-Tien Chang ◽

Chih-Wei Yang ◽

Yu-Chun Chien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiac Arrest ◽

Prediction Model ◽

Situation Awareness ◽

Blood Pressure Level ◽

Emergency Medical Technicians ◽

Validation Dataset ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure Level ◽

Value System ◽

Emergency Medical ◽

Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Introduction: In-hospital early warning system scores for prediction of clinical deterioration have been well-developed. However, such prediction tools in prehospital setting remain unavailable. Hypothesis: To develop a model for predicting patients with emergency medical technicians witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (EMT-witnessed OHCA) . Methods: We used the fire-based emergency medical service (EMS) data from Taipei city to develop the prediction model. Patients included in this study were those initially alive, non-traumatic, and aged ≧20 years. Data were extracted from records of ambulance run sheets and OHCA registry in Taipei. The primary outcome (i.e. EMT-witnessed OHCA) was defined as cardiac arrest occurring during EMT services before arrival at the receiving hospital. The prediction model was developed through the standard cross-validation method (i.e. divided dataset for training group and validation group). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Hosmer-Lemeshow (HL) test were used to test discrimination and calibration. The point value system with Youden’s J Index was used to find the best cut-off value for practical application. Results: From 2011 to 2015, a total of 252,771 patients were included. Of them, 660 (0.26%) were EMT-witnessed OHCA. The prediction model, including gender, respiratory rate, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, level of consciousness and oxygen saturation, showed excellent discrimination (AUC 0.94) and calibration ( p =0.42 for HL test). When applied to the validation dataset, it maintained good discriminatory ability (AUC 0.94) and calibration ( p =0.11). The optimal cut-off value (≧13) of the point value system of the tool showed high sensitivity (87.84%) and specificity (86.20%). Conclusions: The newly developed prediction model will help identify high-risk patients with EMT-witnessed OHCA and indicate potential prevention by situation awareness in EMS.

Download Full-text

Development of a Patient Transport Training Program for 119 Emergency Medical Technicians

National Fire Research Institute of Korea ◽

10.54713/jfri.2021.2.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 1-15

Author(s):

Jeong-Won Son

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Emergency Medical Technicians ◽

Patient Transport ◽

Emergency Medical

Download Full-text

The validation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human services survey for emergency medical technicians in Gauteng

SA Journal of Industrial Psychology ◽

10.4102/sajip.v30i3.167 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 30 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

J. L. P. Naudé ◽

S. Rothmann

Keyword(s):

Human Services ◽

Factor Model ◽

Survey Design ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

Personal Accomplishment ◽

Emergency Medical Technicians ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Emergency Medical ◽

Construct Equivalence

The objectives of this study were to validate the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) for emergency medical technicians in the Gauteng Province of South Africa and to determine its construct equivalence and bias for different race groups. A cross-sectional survey design with an accidental sample (N = 318) was used. The MBIHSS and a biographical questionnaire were administered. Evidence of uniform bias was found for one item of the MBIHSS. Exploratory factor analyses resulted in a 3-factor model of burnout, consisting of Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation and Personal Accomplishment. The scales showed acceptable internal consistencies. Exploratory factor analysis with target rotations confirmed construct equivalence of scales for the White and Black groups. Opsomming Die doelstellings van hierdie studie was om die Maslach Uitbrandingsvraelys – Menslike Dienste-Opname (MBI-HSS) te valideer vir die Nood Mediese Tegnici in die Gauteng Provinsie van Suid-Afrika en om die konstrukekwivalensie en sydigheid daarvan vir die verskillende rassegroepe te bepaal. ’n Dwarssnee opname-ontwerp met ’n beskikbaarheidsteekproef (N = 318) is gebruik. Die MBI-HSS en ’n biografiese vraelys is afgeneem. Uniforme sydigheid is gevind vir een item van die MBI-HSS. Verkennende faktorontleding met teikenrotasies het geresulteer in ’n 3-faktormodel van uitbranding bestaande uit Emosionele Uitputting, Depersonalisasie en Persoonlike Bereiking. Die skale het aanvaarbare interne konsekwentheid getoon. Verkennende faktorontleding met teikenrotasies het die konstrukekwivalensie vir die drie faktore bevestig vir die Wit en Swart groepe.

Download Full-text