PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

HMOs and utilization of emergency medical services: a metropolitan survey.

A survey was conducted of a diverse group of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) serving a large metropolitan area regarding enrollee instructions for use of emergency medical services. Written and verbal requests for written information concerning emergency medical system instructions for enrollees were made to the 25 largest HMOs serving Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Sixteen responses, representing more than 95% of total HMO enrollees, were obtained. Options for access for prehospital care were reviewed and categorized: call 911, call toll-free telephone number, call HMO office or primary physician, go to the nearest HMO-affiliated hospital, and go to the nearest hospital. Of the 16 respondents, 15 HMOs responsible for 99% of the total HMO enrollees advised their subscribers to contact their HMO office or primary physician or to call a toll-free number in the case of an emergency. No HMO advised use of the 911 access as a first response for an emergency. Only two HMO brochures, responsible for 7% of the total HMO enrollees, recommended that 911 access be used. These data suggest that HMO enrollees may not be adequately informed regarding proper use of 911 and the emergency medical services system.

Chicago↗
PubMed1990

Innovations in emergency medical services systems.

This article roughly follows the chronology of an EMS call and discusses innovations in prehospital care, including epidemiology and prevention; precall management (system status management and flexible response); intervention during the call (emergency medicine dispatch); finding the scene; and communications.

Computers↗
PubMed2004

The development of intelligent, triage-based, mass-gathering emergency medical service PDA support systems.

The support systems for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) at mass gatherings, such as the local marathon or large international baseball games, are underdeveloped. The purposes of this study were to extend well-developed, triage-based, EMS Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) support systems to cover pre-hospital emergency medical services and onsite evaluation forms for the mass gatherings, and to evaluate users ' perceived ease of use and usefulness of the systems in terms of Davis ' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The systems were developed based on an established intelligent triage PDA support system and two other forms the general EMS form from the Taipei EMT and the customer-made Mass Gathering Medical form used by a medical center. Twenty-three nurses and six physicians in the medical center, who had served at mass gatherings, were invited to examine the new systems and answer the TAM questionnaire. The PDA systems were composed of 450 information items within 42 screens in 6 categories. The results supported the potential for using triage-based PDA systems at mass gatherings. Overall, most of the subjects agreed that the systems were easy to use and useful for mass gatherings, and they were willing to accept the systems.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

The emergency physician and medical control in advanced life support.

A large urban emergency medical services district (EMSD) in California set certification, recertification, and continuing education standards for advanced life support physician medical radio operators. The EMSD attempted to encourage physician participation and to maintain a high level of medical control. The standards have been well received. There is enthusiastic physician support and widespread physician involvement in the advanced life support system.

California↗
PubMed1991

Monitoring EMS protocol deviations: a useful quality assurance tool.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, type, and outcome of protocol deviations in an emergency medical services (EMS) system. DESIGN: Retrospective consecutive case series. SETTING: Seven advanced life support ambulance services servicing five area hospital emergency departments. PATIENTS: 1,246 patients requiring advanced life support care. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Advanced life support ambulance runs during a two-month period were examined for protocol deviations. Of 1,246 runs examined, 16% had deviations. Approximately 55% of these deviations were minor, 38% were serious, and 7% were very serious in nature. The effects of the errors were evaluated using hospital records. Results showed that 89.5% of patients were unaffected, 5.0% improved, and 5.5% suffered complications from deviations. Emergency medical technicians committed 69% of the deviations without the consent of medical control, medical control committed an additional 18%, and both were responsible in 13% of cases. Incomplete histories were found in 8% of cases. CONCLUSION: Protocol deviations committed in prehospital care do not usually cause direct harm to patients. On review of these deviations, however, several disturbing trends were uncovered, including misconceptions in the use of IV therapy, a number of serious deviations in advanced cardiac life support protocols, and lack of communication with medical control. This type of quality assurance study has the ability to identify areas of strength and weakness in an EMS system, allowing planning of ongoing educational efforts in the system.

Clinical Protocols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Public health preparedness for mass-casualty events: a 2002 state-by-state assessment.

INTRODUCTION: The ongoing threat of a terrorist attack places public agencies under increasing pressure to ensure readiness in the event of a disaster. Yet, little published information exists regarding the current state of readiness, which would allow local and regional organizations to develop disaster preparedness plans that would function seamlessly across service areas. The objective of this study is to characterize state-level disaster readiness soon after September 2001 and correlate readiness with existing programs providing an organized response to medical emergencies. METHODS: During the first quarter of 2002, a cross-sectional survey assessing five components of disaster readiness was administered in all 50 states. The five components of disaster readiness included: (1) statewide disaster planning; (2) coordination; (3) training; (4) resource capacity; and (5) preparedness for biological/chemical terrorism. RESULTS: Most states reported the presence of a statewide disaster plan (94%), but few are tested by activation (48%), and still fewer contain a bioterrorism component (38%). All states have designated disaster operations centers (100%), but few states have an operating communications system linking health and medical resources (36%). Approximately half of states offer disaster training to medical professionals; about 10% of states require the training. Between 22-48% of states have various contingency plans to treat victims when service capacity is exceeded. Biochemical protective equipment for health professionals is lacking in all but one state, and only 10% of states indicate that all hospitals have decontamination capabilities. States with a functioning statewide trauma system were significantly more likely to possess key attributes of a functioning disaster readiness plan. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that disaster plans are prevalent among states. However, key programs and policies were noticeably absent. Communication systems remain fragmented and adequate training programs and protective equipment for health personnel are markedly lacking. Statewide trauma systems may provide a framework upon which to build future medical disaster readiness capacity.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Criteria currently used to evaluate dispatch triage systems: where do they leave us?

Some emergency medical services (EMS) systems are interested in considering the possibility of triaging some patients who call an emergency dispatch center to alternatives to the traditional emergency response, but concerns exist about the safety of that triage. In January 2003, the Neely Conference was held in association with the National Association of EMS Physicians annual meeting in Panama City, Florida. The Neely Conference began the process of developing criteria to be used in research studies evaluating dispatch and field triage systems. Various outcome measures have been used, including expert opinion, patient interviews, specific patient complaints, field findings and interventions, and emergency department or hospital outcomes. This commentary reviews the methods used in the current literature to evaluate dispatch triage systems.

Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems↗
PubMed1984

The 911 emergency telephone number: impact on emergency medical systems access in a metropolitan area.

The telephone number 911 is designated for public use in requesting emergency assistance. It is thought to reduce response time by reducing the interval between the decision to call for assistance and the notification of an agency that can dispatch the appropriate services. The experience of the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul provides a unique opportunity to examine this assumption. Prior to the introduction of the 911 emergency telephone number on December 1, 1982, the area was serviced by over 100 different seven-digit emergency telephone numbers. Before the introduction of 911, 347 callers who activated the emergency medical services (EMS) system were interviewed, and after 911 was introduced, 305 callers were interviewed. Activation of the EMS system by making one call in less than 1 minute was achieved by 219 of 347 callers (63%) in the pre-911 phase and by 251 of 305 callers (82%) in the post-911 phase (P less than 0.001). Compliance (use of an appropriate emergency number for the first call) was demonstrated by 139 of 347 callers (40%) in the pre-911 phase, and 225 of 305 callers (74%) in the post-911 phase (P less than 0.001). Rapid activation of the EMS system was rarely achieved by calling a hospital or physician first. Overall, 911 was found to be a more efficient means of activating the EMS system.

Consumer Behavior↗