scholarly journals Maximizing resource efficiency in rural prehospital emergency medical services through call frequency analysis

2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-301
Author(s):  
Andrew Flynn
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Traffic Accident ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Red Cross ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Accident Data ◽  
Prehospital Emergency

Rural prehospital emergency medical services are often lacking when compared with their urban counterparts in terms of resources and coordinated resource use: can only employ important resources, such as paramedics, during limited shifts. This project demonstrates a method for determining the most effective use of these limited resources in a rural Red Cross ambulance service in Guápiles, Costa Rica. In this community, paramedic services are only available six days a week for twelve hours. Emergency call frequency was mapped using 20 months of traffic accident data and after establishing that traffic accident frequency was statistically dependent on the time of day, polynomial models of the data were generated. The model functions were integrated and the results were tested for accuracy. Integrals were calculated, and the results were reported to the Guápiles Red Cross committee to achieve an improved service. Methods such as this can be applied to any emergency response service.KEY WORDSWorld Health Organization (WHO), Prehospital Emergency Medical Service(s) (PEMS), Traffic Accident (TA), Téchnico de Emergencias Medicas (Paramedic), Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Job Stressors and Job Satisfaction in a Major Metropolitan Public EMS Service

1999 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 32-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Shelby Bowron ◽  
Knox H. Todd
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Career Choice ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Emergency Medical Technicians ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Job Stressors ◽  
Emergency Medical

AbstractIntroduction:Behavioral and social science research suggests that job satisfaction and job performance are positively correlated. It is important that Emergency Medical Services managers identify predictors of job satisfaction in order to maximize job performance among prehospital personnel.Purpose:Identify job stressors that predict the level of job satisfaction among prehospital personnel.Methods:The study was conducted with in a large, urban Emergency Medical Services (Emergency Medical Services) service performing approximately 60,000 Advanced Life Support (Advanced Life Support) responses annually. Using focus groups and informal interviews, potential predictors of global job satisfaction were identified. These factors included: interactions with hospital nurses and physicians; on-line communications; dispatching; training provided by the ambulance service; relationship with supervisors and; standing orders as presently employed by the ambulance service. These factors were incorporated into a 21 item questionnaire including one item measuring global job satisfaction, 14 items measuring potential predictors of satisfaction, and seven questions exploring demographic information such as age, gender, race, years of experience, and years with the company. The survey was administered to all paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians (Emergency Medical Technicians s) Results of the survey were analyzed using univariate and multivariate techniques to identify predictors of global job satisfaction.Results:Ninety paramedics and Emergency Medical Technicians participated in the study, a response rate of 57.3%. Job satisfaction was cited as extremely satisfying by 11%, very satisfying by 29%, satisfying by 45%, and not satisfying by 15% of respondents. On univariate analysis, only the quality of training, quality of physician interaction, and career choice were associated with global job satisfaction. On multivariate analysis, only career choice (p = 0.005) and quality of physician interaction (p = 0.05) were predictive of global job satisfactionConclusion:Quality of career choice and interactions with physicians are predictive of global job satisfaction within this urban emergency medical service (Emergency Medical Technicians). Future studies should examine specific characteristics of the physician-paramedic interface that influence job satisfaction and attempt to generalize these results to other settings.

Pediatric Prehospital Care in Urban and Rural Areas

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 88 (4) ◽  
pp. 681-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Seidel ◽  
Deborah Parkman Henderson ◽  
Patrick Ward ◽  
Barbara Wray Wayland ◽  
Beverly Ness
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Emergency Medical

There are limited data concerning pediatric prehospital care, although pediatric prehospital calls constitute 10% of emergency medical services activity. Data from 10 493 prehospital care reports in 11 counties of California (four emergency medical services systems in rural and urban areas) were collected and analyzed. Comparison of urban and rural data found few significant differences in parameters analyzed. Use of the emergency medical services system by pediatric patients increased with age, but 12.5% of all calls were for children younger than 2 years. Calls for medical problems were most common for patients younger than 5 years of age; trauma was a more common complaint in rural areas (64%, P = .0001). Frequency of vital sign assessment differed by region, as did hospital contact (P < .0001). Complete assessment of young pediatric patients, with a full set of vital signs and neurologic assessment, was rarely performed. Advanced life support providers were often on the scene, but advanced life support treatments and procedures were infrequently used. This study suggests the need for additional data on which to base emergency medical services system design and some directions for education of prehospital care providers.

scholarly journals Management of EMS on-scene time during advanced life support in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a retrospective observational trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. S82-S89
Author(s):  
Michael Poppe ◽  
Mario Krammel ◽  
Christian Clodi ◽  
Christoph Schriefl ◽  
Alexandra-Maria Warenits ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Spontaneous Circulation ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Objective Most western emergency medical services provide advanced life support in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest aiming for a return of spontaneous circulation at the scene. Little attention is given to prehospital time management in the case of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with regard to early coronary angiography or to the start of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation treatment within 60 minutes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest onset. We investigated the emergency medical services on-scene time, defined as emergency medical services arrival at the scene until departure to the hospital, and its association with 30-day survival with favourable neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods All patients of over 18 years of age with non-traumatic, non-emergency medical services witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between July 2013 and August 2015 from the Vienna Cardiac Arrest Registry were included in this retrospective observational study. Results Out of 2149 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients, a total of 1687 (79%) patients were eligible for analyses. These patients were stratified into groups according to the on-scene time (<35 minutes, 35–45 minutes, 45–60 minutes, >60 minutes). Within short on-scene time groups, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurred more often in public and bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation was more common (both P<0.001). Patients who did not achieve return of spontaneous circulation at the scene showed higher rates of 30-day survival with favourable neurological outcome with an on-scene time of less than 35 minutes (adjusted odds ratio 5.00, 95% confidence interval 1.39–17.96). Conclusion An emergency medical services on-scene time of less than 35 minutes was associated with higher rates of survival and favourable outcomes. It seems to be reasonable to develop time optimised advance life support protocols to minimise the on-scene time in view of further treatments such as early coronary angiography as part of post-resuscitation care or extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation in refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Departure Interval: Does Patient Age Matter?

2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 608-613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Schnegg ◽  
Mathieu Pasquier ◽  
Pierre-Nicolas Carron ◽  
Bertrand Yersin ◽  
Fabrice Dami
Keyword(s):  
Response Time ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Patient Age ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Patient Âgé ◽  
Prehospital Emergency ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIntroductionThe concept of response time with minimal interval is intimately related to the practice of emergency medicine. The factors influencing this time interval are poorly understood.ProblemIn a process of improvement of response time, the impact of the patient’s age on ambulance departure intervals was investigated.MethodThis was a 3-year observational study. Departure intervals of ambulances, according to age of patients, were analyzed and a multivariate analysis, according to time of day and suspected medical problem, was performed.ResultsA total of 44,113 missions were included, 2,417 (5.5%) in the pediatric group. Mean departure delay for the adult group was 152.9 seconds, whereas it was 149.3 seconds for the pediatric group (P =.018).ConclusionA statistically significant departure interval difference between missions for children and adults was found. The difference, however, probably was not significant from a clinical point of view (four seconds).SchneggB, PasquierM, CarronPN, YersinB, DamiF. Prehospital Emergency Medical Services departure interval: does patient age matter?Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(6):608–613.

Fall with Syncope

2018 ◽  
pp. 52-57
Author(s):  
Christopher J. Fullagar
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medicine ◽  
Pain Management ◽  
Patient Care ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Basic Life Support ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Emergency Medical

Syncope has a number of worrisome potential etiologies and often prompts a basic life support (BLS) emergency medical services (EMS) crew to call for advanced life support (ALS). Pain management may be another valid reason to call for ALS. EMS, and emergency medicine in general, is tasked with evaluating and mitigating the most worrisome causes of a patient’s presentations even if those causes are not necessarily the most likely. ALS is indicated for many patients who have suffered a syncopal episode although astute BLS assessment and intervention may be all that are indicated in certain cases. The importance of BLS care is often minimized or overlooked in EMS but can have a significant effect on patient care if well implemented. The case demonstrates how well-applied BLS effectively managed this patient presenting with syncope and a painful fracture.

scholarly journals Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: determinant factors for immediate survival after cardiopulmonary resuscitation

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Aparecida Morais ◽  
Daclé Vilma Carvalho ◽  
Allana dos Reis Correa
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Basic Life Support ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Determinant Factors ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Advanced Support

OBJECTIVE: to analyze determinant factors for the immediate survival of persons who receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation from the advanced support units of the Mobile Emergency Medical Services (SAMU) of Belo Horizonte.METHOD: this is a retrospective, epidemiological study which analyzed 1,165 assistance forms, from the period 2008 - 2010. The collected data followed the Utstein style, being submitted to descriptive and analytical statistics with tests with levels of significance of 5%.RESULTS: the majority were male, the median age was 64 years, and the ambulance response time, nine minutes. Immediate survival was observed in 239 persons. An association was ascertained of this outcome with "cardiac arrest witnessed by persons trained in basic life support" (OR=3.49; p<0.05; CI 95%), "cardiac arrest witnessed by Mobile Emergency Medical Services teams" (OR=2.99; p<0.05; CI95%), "only the carry out of basic life support" (OR=0.142; p<0.05; CI95%), and "initial cardiac rhythm of asystole" (OR=0.33; p<0.05; CI 95%).CONCLUSION: early access to cardiopulmonary resuscitation was related to a favorable outcome, and the non-undertaking of advanced support, and asystole, were associated with worse outcomes. Basic and advanced life support techniques can alter survival in the event of cardiac arrest.

scholarly journals Management and outcomes of pediatric patients transported by emergency medical services in a Canadian prehospital system

CJEM ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (01) ◽  
pp. 6-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Richard ◽  
Martin H. Osmond ◽  
Lisa Nesbitt ◽  
Ian G. Stiell
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Blood Glucose Monitoring ◽  
Cardiac Monitoring ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Emergency Medical

ABSTRACTObjectives:There is uncertainty around the types of interventions that are provided by emergency medical services (EMS) to children during prehospital transport. We describe the patient characteristics, events, interventions provided and outcomes of a cohort of children transported by EMS.Methods:This prospective cohort study was conducted in a city of 750 000 people with a 2-tiered EMS system. All children &lt;16 years of age who were attended by EMS during a 6-month period were enrolled. Data were extracted from ambulance call reports and hospital charts, and analyzed using descriptive statistics.Results:During the study period there were 1377 pediatric EMS calls. Mean age was 8.2 years (standard deviation 5.4), and the most common diagnoses were trauma (44.9%), seizure (11.8%) and respiratory distress (8.8%). The ambulance return code wasUrgentin 7%,Promptin 57%,Deferrablein 8% andNot Transportedin 28%. Fifty-six percent received either an Advanced Life Support or Basic Life Support prehospital intervention. Common procedures included cardiac monitoring (20.0%), oxygen administration (19.8%), blood glucose monitoring (16.3%), spine board (12.2%), limb immobilization (11.1%) and cervical collar (10.0%). Uncommon procedures included administering medications intravenously (IV) (1.4%), bag-valve-mask ventilation (0.3%) and endotracheal intubation (0.1%). Seventy-eight percent of attempted IV lines were successful. Only 9.0% of EMS-transported children were admitted to hospital, and 2.2% were admitted to the intensive care unit.Conclusions:This first study of Canadian pediatric prehospital interventions shows a high rate of non-transport, and a low rate ofUrgenttransports and hospital admissions for children. Very few children receive prehospital airway management, ventilation or IV medications; consequently EMS personnel have little opportunity to maintain these pediatric skills in the field.

Impact of the San Diego County Firestorm on Emergency Medical Services

2006 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary M. Vilke ◽  
Alan M. Smith ◽  
Barbara M. Stepanski ◽  
Leslie Upledger Ray ◽  
Patricia A. Murrin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
San Diego ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Advanced Life Support ◽  
San Diego County ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Eye Injuries ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Respiratory Complaints

AbstractBackground:In October 2003, San Diego County, California, USA, experienced the worst firestormin recent history. During the firestorm, public health leaders implemented multiple initiatives to reduce its impact on community health using health updates and news briefings. This study assessed the impact of patients with fire-related complaints on the emergency medical services (EMS) system during and after the firestorm.Methods:A retrospective review of a prehospital database was performed for all patients who were evaluated by advanced life support (ALS) ambulance personnel after calling the 9-1-1 emergency phone system for direct, fire related complaints from 19 October 2003 through 30 November 2003 in San Diego County. The study location has an urban, suburban, rural, and remote resident population of approximately three million and covers 4,300 square miles (2,050 km2). The prehospital patient database was searched for all patients with a complaint that was related directly to the fires. Charts were abstracted for data, including demographics, medical issues, treatments, and disposition status.Results:During the firestorm, fire consumed >380,000 acres (>938,980 hectares), including 2,454 residences and 785 outbuildings, and resulted in a total of 16 fatalities. Advanced life support providers evaluated 138 patients for fire related complaints. The majority of calls were for acute respiratory complaints. Other complaints included burns, trauma associated with evacuation or firefighting, eye injuries, and dehydration. A total of 78% of the injuries were mild. Twenty percent of the victims were firefighters, most with respiratory complaints, eye injuries, or injuries related to trauma. A total of 76% of the patients were transported to the hospital, while 10% signed out against medical advice.Conclusion:Although the firestorm had the potential to significantly impact EMS, pre-emptive actions resulted in minimal impact to emergency departments and the prehospital system. However, during the event, therewere a number of lessons learned that can be used in future events.

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