Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study
The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a direct and indirect effect on the different healthcare systems around the world. In this study, we aim to describe the impact on the utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied cumulative data...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/1/14 |
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| author | Ahmed Al-Wathinani Attila J. Hertelendy Sultana Alhurishi Abdulmajeed Mobrad Riyadh Alhazmi Mohammad Altuwaijri Meshal Alanazi Raied Alotaibi Krzysztof Goniewicz |
| author_facet | Ahmed Al-Wathinani Attila J. Hertelendy Sultana Alhurishi Abdulmajeed Mobrad Riyadh Alhazmi Mohammad Altuwaijri Meshal Alanazi Raied Alotaibi Krzysztof Goniewicz |
| author_sort | Ahmed Al-Wathinani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a direct and indirect effect on the different healthcare systems around the world. In this study, we aim to describe the impact on the utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied cumulative data from emergency calls collected from the SRCA. Data were separated into three periods: before COVID-19 (1 January–29 February 2020), during COVID-19 (1 March–23 April 2020), and during the Holy Month of Ramadan (24 April–23 May 2020). A marked increase of cases was handled during the COVID-19 period compared to the number before pandemic. Increases in all types of cases, except for those related to trauma, occurred during COVID-19, with all regions experiencing increased call volumes during COVID-19 compared with before pandemic. Demand for EMS significantly increased throughout Saudi Arabia during the pandemic period. Use of the mobile application ASAFNY to request an ambulance almost doubled during the pandemic but remained a small fraction of total calls. Altered weekly call patterns and increased call volume during the pandemic indicated not only a need for increased staff but an alteration in staffing patterns. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:47:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4ad614ad9ae54f89a1d2bfce1eee6bcd |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:47:20Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-4ad614ad9ae54f89a1d2bfce1eee6bcd2023-11-21T02:30:10ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322020-12-01911410.3390/healthcare9010014Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective StudyAhmed Al-Wathinani0Attila J. Hertelendy1Sultana Alhurishi2Abdulmajeed Mobrad3Riyadh Alhazmi4Mohammad Altuwaijri5Meshal Alanazi6Raied Alotaibi7Krzysztof Goniewicz8Department of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz College Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Information Systems and Business Analytics, College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33174, USADepartment of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz College Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz College Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDeputy of General Manager of EMS Administration, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaGeneral Manager of Medical Supply, Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz College Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Aviation Security, Military University of Aviation, 08521 Dęblin, PolandThe coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a direct and indirect effect on the different healthcare systems around the world. In this study, we aim to describe the impact on the utilization of emergency medical services (EMS) in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We studied cumulative data from emergency calls collected from the SRCA. Data were separated into three periods: before COVID-19 (1 January–29 February 2020), during COVID-19 (1 March–23 April 2020), and during the Holy Month of Ramadan (24 April–23 May 2020). A marked increase of cases was handled during the COVID-19 period compared to the number before pandemic. Increases in all types of cases, except for those related to trauma, occurred during COVID-19, with all regions experiencing increased call volumes during COVID-19 compared with before pandemic. Demand for EMS significantly increased throughout Saudi Arabia during the pandemic period. Use of the mobile application ASAFNY to request an ambulance almost doubled during the pandemic but remained a small fraction of total calls. Altered weekly call patterns and increased call volume during the pandemic indicated not only a need for increased staff but an alteration in staffing patterns.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/1/14EMSSaudi Arabiacall volumeCOVID-19Saudi Red Crescent Authority |
| spellingShingle | Ahmed Al-Wathinani Attila J. Hertelendy Sultana Alhurishi Abdulmajeed Mobrad Riyadh Alhazmi Mohammad Altuwaijri Meshal Alanazi Raied Alotaibi Krzysztof Goniewicz Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study Healthcare EMS Saudi Arabia call volume COVID-19 Saudi Red Crescent Authority |
| title | Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study |
| title_full | Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study |
| title_fullStr | Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study |
| title_short | Increased Emergency Calls during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A National Retrospective Study |
| title_sort | increased emergency calls during the covid 19 pandemic in saudi arabia a national retrospective study |
| topic | EMS Saudi Arabia call volume COVID-19 Saudi Red Crescent Authority |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/9/1/14 |
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