Ground-Based Medical Services for In-Flight Emergencies

2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (4) ◽  
pp. 348-351
Author(s):  
Jung Ha Kim ◽  
Smi Choi-Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Common Reason ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Prescription Medications ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Cabin Crew ◽  
Medication Prescription ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Cardiac Symptoms ◽  
Actual Use ◽  
Specific Symptoms

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of ground-based medical services (GBMS) by the cabin crew of a major South Korean airline for in-flight medical incidents involving passengers.METHODS: We conducted a survey of cabin crew to identify the anticipated use of GBMS in 2017. We compared the anticipated use to actual use as reported in cabin crew records submitted to the GBMS team and cabin crew logs from May 2013 to April 2016.RESULTS: Among 766 team leaders and assistant leaders, 211 individuals answered the questionnaire. A total of 915 instances of GBMS use were reported during the study period. There were no significant differences between anticipated and actual use in terms of the reasons for needing GBMS, with medication prescription being the most common reason. However, there were significant differences in the specific symptoms that triggered contact with GBMS. Pediatric and digestive symptoms were under-predicted, while neuropsychiatric and cardiac symptoms were over-predicted.DISCUSSION: Cabin crew tended to require GBMS to assist with pediatric and digestive conditions more often than anticipated. Furthermore, digestive and pediatric symptoms often require prescription medications.Kim JH, Choi-Kwon S. Ground-based medical services for in-flight emergencies. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(4):348–351.

scholarly journals Emergency medical services evaluations for chest pain during first COVID-19 lockdown in Hollands-Midden, the Netherlands

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. R. de Koning ◽  
M. J. Boogers ◽  
J. Bosch ◽  
M. de Visser ◽  
M. J. Schalij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chest Pain ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Cardiac Symptoms ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
St Elevation ◽  
Pain Patients ◽  
Hospital Cardiac Arrest

Abstract Objective To assess whether the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 had negative indirect health effects, as people seem to have been reluctant to seek medical care. Methods All emergency medical services (EMS) transports for chest pain or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the Dutch region Hollands-Midden (population served > 800,000) were evaluated during the initial 6 weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown and during the same time period in 2019. The primary endpoint was the number of evaluated chest pain patients in both cohorts. In addition, the number of EMS evaluations of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and OHCA were assessed. Results During the COVID-19 lockdown period, the EMS evaluated 927 chest pain patients (49% male, age 62 ± 17 years) compared with 1041 patients (51% male, 63 ± 17 years) in the same period in 2019, which corresponded with a significant relative risk (RR) reduction of 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.96). Similarly, there was a significant reduction in the number of STEMI patients (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.85), the incidence of OHCA remained unchanged (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.83–1.83). Conclusion During the first COVID-19 lockdown, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients with chest pain or STEMI evaluated by the EMS, while the incidence of OHCA remained similar. Although the reason for the decrease in chest pain and STEMI consultations is not entirely clear, more attention should be paid to the importance of contacting the EMS in case of suspected cardiac symptoms in possible future lockdowns.

Clinical handover from emergency medical services to the trauma team: A gap analysis

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S2) ◽  
pp. S21-S29
Author(s):  
Arshia P. Javidan ◽  
Avery B. Nathens ◽  
Homer Tien ◽  
Luis T. da Luz
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Gap Analysis ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Active Listening ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Process Measures ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Emergency Medical

ABSTRACTObjectivesThere has been limited evaluation of handover from emergency medical services (EMS) to the trauma team. We sought to characterize these handover practices to identify areas of improvement and determine if handover standardization might be beneficial for trauma team performance.MethodsData were prospectively collected over a nine-week period by a trained observer at a Canadian level one trauma centre. A randomized scheduled was used to capture a representative breadth of handovers. Data collected included outcome measures such as duration of handover, structure of the handover, and information shared, process measures such as questions and interruptions from the trauma team, and perceptions of the handover from nurses, trauma team leaders and EMS according to a bidirectional Likert scale.Results79 formal verbal handovers were observed. Information was often missing regarding airway (present 22%), breathing (54%), medications (59%), and allergies (54%). Handover structure lacked consistency beyond the order of identification and mechanism of injury. Of all questions asked, 35% were questioning previously given information. The majority of handovers (61%) involved parallel conversations between team members while EMS was speaking. There was a statistically significant disparity between the self-evaluation of EMS handovers and the perceived quality determined by nurses and trauma team leaders.ConclusionsWe have identified the need to standardize handover due to poor information content, a lack of structure and active listening, information repetition, and discordant expectations between team members. These data will guide the development of a co-constructed framework integrating the perspectives of all team members.

scholarly journals Nonspecific symptoms dominate at first contact to emergency healthcare services among cases with invasive meningococcal disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichlas Hovmand ◽  
Helle Collatz Christensen ◽  
Lene Fogt Lundbo ◽  
Håkon Sandholdt ◽  
Gitte Kronborg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Invasive Meningococcal Disease ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Initial Contact ◽  
Electronic Health Record Data ◽  
Early Management ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Specific Symptoms ◽  
First Contact

Abstract Background An early appropriate response is the cornerstone of treatment for invasive meningococcal disease. Little evidence exists on how cases with invasive meningococcal disease present at first contact to emergency medical services. Methods Retrospective observational study of cases presenting with invasive meningococcal disease from January 1st of 2016 to December 31st of 2020 in the Capital Region of Denmark with a catchment area population of 1,800,000. A single medical emergency center provides services to the region. Data was collected from emergency medical services’ call audio files, data from the call receiver registrations, registrations from ambulance personal and electronic health record data from the hospitalization. Results Of 1527 cases suspected of meningitis, 38 had invasive meningococcal disease and had been in contact with the emergency service. Most contacts were to the medical helpline rather than the emergency call center at initial contact to emergency medical services. All were hospitalized within 12 h. At initial contact, fever was present in 28 (74%) of 38 cases, while specific symptoms such as headache (n=12 (32%)), a rash or petechiae (n=9 (23%)) and stiffness of the neck (n=4 (11%)) varied and were infrequent. Cases younger than 18 years of age were more often male and more often presented with fever and rash/petechiae. Only 4 (11%) received prehospital antibiotic treatment. Conclusions Cases with invasive meningococcal disease presented with fever and unspecific symptoms. Although few were acutely ill at their initial contact, all were admitted within 12 h. We suggest that all feverish cases should be systematically asked about specific symptoms and should be wary of symptom progression to optimize the early management if cases with invasive meningococcal disease.

scholarly journals I Want an Omnipotent Doctor: North Korean Defectors’ Unmet Expectations of South Korean Medical Providers

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soo Jung Hong
Keyword(s):  
Medical Service ◽  
Analysis Data ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Medical Providers ◽  
South Korean ◽  
The North ◽  
Unmet Expectations ◽  
North Korean Defectors ◽  
To Receive ◽  
Depth Interviews

This study examines North Korean defectors’ unmet expectations of South Korean medical providers from the perspectives of both North Korean defectors and their medical providers. Seventeen defectors and 12 medical providers were recruited for focus groups and in-depth interviews. Grounded theory was used for data analysis. Data indicates the North Korean defectors were not satisfied with their providers because they (1) preferred human techniques over computerized technology, (2) expected the doctors to be omnipotent, and (3) expected to receive emergency medical service but did not expect to pay for it. Their medical providers felt that it was impossible to satisfy the defectors because they expected to (1) receive medical services based on self-diagnosis and/or nonmedical personal needs, (2) have the doctor listen to their stories, and (3) receive medical services without booking an appointment. The findings of this study suggest that more efforts for mutual understanding and effective communication are urgently needed for both providers and defectors.

scholarly journals P079: Clinical handover from emergency medical services to the trauma team: A gap analysis

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S92-S93
Author(s):  
A. Javidan ◽  
A. Nathens ◽  
H. Tien ◽  
L. da Luz
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Active Listening ◽  
Team Leaders ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Team Members ◽  
Clinical Handover ◽  
Emergency Medical

Background: Clinical handover between emergency medical services (EMS) and the hospital trauma team can be subject to errors that may negatively affect patient care. Thus far, there has been limited evaluation of the quality of EMS handover. As such, we sought to characterize handover practices from EMS to the trauma team, identify areas for improvement, and determine if there is a need for standardization of current handover practices. Aim Statement: Identify areas for improvement in handover from EMS to the trauma team, specifically examining handover content, structure, and discordances between different team members regarding handover expectations. Measures & Design: Data were prospectively collected over a nine week period by a trained observer at Canada's largest level one trauma centre. A randomized scheduled was used to capture a representative breadth of handovers. Data collected included outcome measures such as duration of handover, structure of the handover, and information shared, process measures such as questions and interruptions from the trauma team, and perceptions of the handover from nurses, trauma team leaders (TTLs) and EMS according to a bidirectional Likert scale. Evaluation/Results: Of 410 trauma team activations, 79 verbal handovers were observed. Information was often missing regarding airway (present 22%), breathing (54%), medications (59%), and allergies (54%). Handover structure lacked consistency beyond the order of identification and mechanism of injury. Only 28% of handovers had a dedicated question and answer period. Of all questions asked, 35% were questioning previously given information. EMS returned to categories of information unprompted in 84% of handovers. The majority of handovers (61%) involved parallel conversations between team members while EMS was speaking, which was associated with a greater number of interrupting questions from the trauma team (3.15 vs. 1.82, p =.001). There was a statistically significant disparity between the self-evaluation of EMS handovers and the perceived quality determined by nurses and trauma team leaders. Discussion/Impact: At our trauma centre, we have identified the need for handover standardization due to poor information content, a lack of structure and active listening, significant information repetition, and discordant expectations between EMS, nurses, and TTLs. We intend to use our results to guide the development of a co-constructed framework integrating the perspectives of all team members on the trauma team.

scholarly journals The Relation between Frequency of E-Cigarette Use and Frequency and Intensity of Cigarette Smoking among South Korean Adolescents

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Ah Lee ◽  
Sungkyu Lee ◽  
Hong-Jun Cho
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Common Reason ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
School Students ◽  
Cigarette Smokers ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Korean Adolescents ◽  
South Korean

Introduction The prevalence of adolescent electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has increased in most countries. This study determines the relation between the frequency of e-cigarette use and the frequency and intensity of cigarette smoking. Furthermore, it evaluates the association between the reasons for e-cigarette use and the frequency of its use. Materials and Methods Participants were 68,043 middle and high school students aged 13–18 years from the 2015 Korean Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey. Of the 68,043 participants, we analyzed 6,655 adolescents with an experience of e-cigarette use. Results The prevalence of ever using and current (past 30 days) use of e-cigarettes was 10.1% and 3.9%, respectively. Of the ever e-cigarette users, approximately 40% used e-cigarettes for ≥1/month and 8.1% used e-cigarettes daily. Daily e-cigarettes users were 10 times greater among daily cigarette smokers than among cigarette users for <1/month (18.1% vs. 1.8%) and 16 times more prevalent among those smoking ≥20 cigarettes/day than among those smoking <1 cigarette/month (38.9% vs. 2.4%). The most common reason for e-cigarette use was curiosity (22.9%), followed by less harmful than conventional cigarettes (18.9%), smoking cessation (13.1%), and indoor use (10.7%). Curiosity was the most common reason among less frequent e-cigarette users; however, smoking cessation and indoor use were the most common reasons among more frequent users. Conclusions Results showed a positive relation between frequency or intensity of conventional cigarette smoking and frequency of e-cigarette use among Korean adolescents, and frequency of e-cigarette use differed according to the reason for the use of e-cigarettes.

scholarly journals Life Experiences with Using Community Care among People with Severe Physical Disabilities: A Comparative Analysis between South Korea and Japan

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (24) ◽  
pp. 9195
Author(s):  
Minyoung Lee ◽  
Yeji Choi ◽  
Eun Young Lee ◽  
Dong-A Kim ◽  
Seung Hee Ho
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Vocational Training ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Community Care ◽  
Physical Disabilities ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Pathway Mapping ◽  
South Korean ◽  
The Government

This study identified the pathways chosen by people with severe physical disabilities (PWSPD) in South Korea and Japan in using community care throughout their life and compared their experiences while navigating these pathways from their perspective. A concurrent nested mixed-method design was adopted. Quantitative data analysis included pathway mapping of facilities and services used throughout their lives. For qualitative data, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was applied. Eleven South Korean (congenital 7, acquired 4) and nine Japanese (congenital 6, acquired 3) participants were surveyed and interviewed. Pathway mapping was conducted by classifying the participants into focus groups. South Korean participants took nine years more than the Japanese participants to reach independence and showed different pathway characteristics. Superordinate themes from the IPA provided insight into the differences in experiences between PWSPD of the two countries: (1) accessibility and continuity of medical services; (2) experience of vocational training; (3) way and degree of social support for independent living; (4) care planning for receiving comprehensive services. In developing a community care model for the PWSPD to accelerate their time to independence, the government should strive for accessibility and connectivity of medical services, strengthen vocational training, social support for independent living, and information provision for the PWSPD.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document