Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study
Abstract Background Emergency medical services (EMS) were the first point of contact for many COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the non-conveyance decision of a COVID-19 patient was more frequently associated with a new EMS call than direct ambul...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00915-6 |
| _version_ | 1797398171412856832 |
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| author | Kari Heinonen Markku Kuisma Heli Salmi Tuukka Puolakka |
| author_facet | Kari Heinonen Markku Kuisma Heli Salmi Tuukka Puolakka |
| author_sort | Kari Heinonen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Emergency medical services (EMS) were the first point of contact for many COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the non-conveyance decision of a COVID-19 patient was more frequently associated with a new EMS call than direct ambulance transport to the hospital. Methods All confirmed COVID-19 patients with an EMS call within 14 days of symptom onset were included in the study. Patients were compared based on their prehospital transport decision (transport vs. non-conveyance). The primary endpoint was a new EMS call within 10 days leading to ambulance transport. Results A total of 1 286 patients met the study criteria; of these, 605 (47.0%) were male with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 50.5 (SD 19.3) years. The most common dispatch codes were dyspnea in 656 (51.0%) and malaise in 364 (28.3%) calls. High-priority dispatch was used in 220 (17.1%) cases. After prehospital evaluation, 586 (45.6%) patients were discharged at the scene. Oxygen was given to 159 (12.4%) patients, of whom all but one were transported. A new EMS call leading to ambulance transport was observed in 133 (10.3%) cases; of these, 40 (30.1%) were in the group primarily transported and 93 (69.9%) were among the patients who were primarily discharged at the scene (p<.001). There were no significant differences in past medical history, presence of abnormal vital signs, or total NEWS score. Supplemental oxygen was given to 33 (24.8%) patients; 3 (2.3%) patients received other medications. Conclusion Nearly half of all prehospital COVID-19 patients could be discharged at the scene. Approximately every sixth of these had a new EMS call and ambulance transport within the following 10 days. No significant deterioration was seen among patients primarily discharged at the scene. EMS was able to safely adjust its performance during the first pandemic wave to avoid ED overcrowding. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:20:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc4c2421125b4dd4aef95720a2e7facf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-227X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T01:20:54Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc4c2421125b4dd4aef95720a2e7facf2023-12-10T12:09:48ZengBMCBMC Emergency Medicine1471-227X2023-12-012311810.1186/s12873-023-00915-6Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational studyKari Heinonen0Markku Kuisma1Heli Salmi2Tuukka Puolakka3Department of Emergency Medicine & Services, Helsinki University Hospital and the University of HelsinkiDepartment of Emergency Medicine & Services, Helsinki University Hospital and the University of HelsinkiDepartment of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Helsinki University Hospital and the University of HelsinkiDepartment of Emergency Medicine & Services, Helsinki University Hospital and the University of HelsinkiAbstract Background Emergency medical services (EMS) were the first point of contact for many COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the non-conveyance decision of a COVID-19 patient was more frequently associated with a new EMS call than direct ambulance transport to the hospital. Methods All confirmed COVID-19 patients with an EMS call within 14 days of symptom onset were included in the study. Patients were compared based on their prehospital transport decision (transport vs. non-conveyance). The primary endpoint was a new EMS call within 10 days leading to ambulance transport. Results A total of 1 286 patients met the study criteria; of these, 605 (47.0%) were male with a mean (standard deviation [SD]) age of 50.5 (SD 19.3) years. The most common dispatch codes were dyspnea in 656 (51.0%) and malaise in 364 (28.3%) calls. High-priority dispatch was used in 220 (17.1%) cases. After prehospital evaluation, 586 (45.6%) patients were discharged at the scene. Oxygen was given to 159 (12.4%) patients, of whom all but one were transported. A new EMS call leading to ambulance transport was observed in 133 (10.3%) cases; of these, 40 (30.1%) were in the group primarily transported and 93 (69.9%) were among the patients who were primarily discharged at the scene (p<.001). There were no significant differences in past medical history, presence of abnormal vital signs, or total NEWS score. Supplemental oxygen was given to 33 (24.8%) patients; 3 (2.3%) patients received other medications. Conclusion Nearly half of all prehospital COVID-19 patients could be discharged at the scene. Approximately every sixth of these had a new EMS call and ambulance transport within the following 10 days. No significant deterioration was seen among patients primarily discharged at the scene. EMS was able to safely adjust its performance during the first pandemic wave to avoid ED overcrowding.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00915-6Emergency Medical ServicesCovid-19PrehospitalNon-conveyance |
| spellingShingle | Kari Heinonen Markku Kuisma Heli Salmi Tuukka Puolakka Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study BMC Emergency Medicine Emergency Medical Services Covid-19 Prehospital Non-conveyance |
| title | Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study |
| title_full | Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study |
| title_fullStr | Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study |
| title_short | Prehospital COVID-19 patients discharged at the scene – an observational study |
| title_sort | prehospital covid 19 patients discharged at the scene an observational study |
| topic | Emergency Medical Services Covid-19 Prehospital Non-conveyance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-023-00915-6 |
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