Title: The effect of ambulance response time on patient and transfer to hospital
Authors: Abdulrahman Naif Alanazi, Mansour Shathah Alkhaldi, Aloush Homeed A Almutairi
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v11i12.01
Abstract
This study investigates the critical relationship between ambulance response time and its impact on patient outcomes during the transfer to the hospital. Timely and efficient ambulance responses are fundamental in emergency medical services, significantly influencing patient morbidity and mortality rates. The research employs a retrospective analysis of ambulance response times and patient transfer data collected over a specific period. Key variables include response time intervals, patient demographics, medical conditions, and outcomes during hospital transfer. Statistical analyses, including regression modeling, are utilized to assess the correlation between response times and patient outcomes, considering potential confounding factors.
Preliminary findings indicate a noteworthy association between extended ambulance response times and adverse patient outcomes, emphasizing the urgency of swift emergency medical interventions. This research contributes valuable insights to emergency medical service providers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals, aiming to enhance pre-hospital care strategies and improve overall patient well-being. The implications of these findings extend beyond statistical correlations, emphasizing the imperative need for efficient emergency response systems to optimize patient care and outcomes.
Keywords: Ambulance response time, Patient care, Emergency medical service, Hospital.
References
- Wilde, E. T. (2013). Do emergency medical system response times matter for health outcomes?. Health economics, 22(7), 790-806.
- Chen, C., Shin, S. D., Sun, J. T., Jamaluddin, S. F., Tanaka, S., Song, K. J., Kajino, K., Kimura, A., Huang, E. P., Hsieh, M., Ming, M. H., & Chiang, W. (2020). Association between prehospital time and outcome of trauma patients in 4 Asian countries: A cross-national, multicenter cohort study. PLOS Medicine, 17(10), e1003360. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003360
- Sasson, C., Haukoos, J. S., & Bond, C. (2010). Barriers and Facilitators to Learning and Performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Neighborhoods with Low Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Prevalence and High Rates of Cardiac Arrest in Columbus, OH. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, 3(3), 276–283. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCOUTCOMES.111.000097
- Mould‐Millman, N., Meese, H., Alattas, I., Ido, M., Yi, I., Oyewumi, T., Colman, M., Frankel, M., & Yancey, A. (2018). Accuracy of prehospital identification of stroke in a large stroke belt municipality. Prehospital Emergency Care, 22(6), 734–742. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2018.1447620
- Maguire, B. J., Hunting, K. L., Smith, G. S., & Levick, N. (2002). Occupational fatalities in emergency medical services: A hidden crisis. Annals of Emergency Medicine, 40(6), 625–632. https://doi.org/10.1067/mem.2002.128681
- Blanchard, I. E., Doig, C. J., Hagel, B. E., Anton, A. R., Zygun, D. A., Kortbeek, J. B., ... & Innes, G. D. (2012). Emergency medical services response time and mortality in an urban setting. Prehospital emergency care, 16(1), 142-151.
- Blackwell, T. H., Kline, J. A., Willis, J. J., & Hicks, G. M. (2009). Lack of association between prehospital response times and patient outcomes. Prehospital Emergency Care, 13(4), 444-450.
- Eckstein, M., & Chan, L. S. (2004). The effect of emergency department crowding on paramedic ambulance availability. Annals of emergency medicine, 43(1), 100-105.
- Vandeventer, S., Studnek, J. R., Garrett, J. S., Ward, S. R., Staley, K., & Blackwell, T. (2011). The association between ambulance hospital turnaround times and patient acuity, destination hospital, and time of day. Prehospital Emergency Care, 15(3), 366-370.
- Burke, L. G., Joyce, N., Baker, W. E., Biddinger, P. D., Dyer, K. S., Friedman, F. D., ... & Epstein, S. K. (2013). The effect of an ambulance diversion ban on emergency department length of stay and ambulance turnaround time. Annals of emergency medicine, 61(3), 303-311.