Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia
Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine when and how rapid response vehicles (RRVs) make a difference in prehospital care by investigating the number and kinds of RRV assignment dispatches and the prehospital characteristics and interventions involved. Methods This retrospective c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-07-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00519-8 |
| _version_ | 1797779082429071360 |
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| author | Erik Strandqvist Staffan Olheden Anders Bäckman Henrik Jörnvall Denise Bäckström |
| author_facet | Erik Strandqvist Staffan Olheden Anders Bäckman Henrik Jörnvall Denise Bäckström |
| author_sort | Erik Strandqvist |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The aim of this study was to determine when and how rapid response vehicles (RRVs) make a difference in prehospital care by investigating the number and kinds of RRV assignment dispatches and the prehospital characteristics and interventions involved. Methods This retrospective cohort study was based on data from a quality assurance system where all assignments are registered. RRV staff register every assignment directly at the site, using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. There is no mandatory information requirement or time limit for registration. The study includes data for all RRVs operating in Region Stockholm, three during daytime hours and one at night – from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Results In 2021, RRVs in Stockholm were dispatched on 11,283 occasions, of which 3,571 (31.6%) resulted in stand-downs. In general, stand-downs were less common for older patients. The most common dispatch category was blunt trauma (1,584 or 14.0%), which accounted for the highest frequency of stand-downs (676 or 6.0%). The second most common category was cardiac arrest (1,086 or 9.6%), followed by shortness of breath (691 or 6.1%), medical not specified (N/S) (596 or 5.3%), and seizures (572 or 5.1%). Conclusion The study findings confirm that RRVs provide valuable assistance to the ambulance service in Stockholm, especially for cardiac arrest and trauma patients. In particular, RRV personnel have more advanced medical knowledge and can administer medications and perform interventions that the regular ambulance service cannot provide. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:26:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-df7730fd1de44331bbdc54f42810b3fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1865-1380 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:26:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-df7730fd1de44331bbdc54f42810b3fc2023-07-16T11:08:36ZengBMCInternational Journal of Emergency Medicine1865-13802023-07-011611910.1186/s12245-023-00519-8Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in ScandinaviaErik Strandqvist0Staffan Olheden1Anders Bäckman2Henrik Jörnvall3Denise Bäckström4Capio AkutläkarbilarCapio AkutläkarbilarCapio AkutläkarbilarCapio AkutläkarbilarCapio AkutläkarbilarAbstract Background The aim of this study was to determine when and how rapid response vehicles (RRVs) make a difference in prehospital care by investigating the number and kinds of RRV assignment dispatches and the prehospital characteristics and interventions involved. Methods This retrospective cohort study was based on data from a quality assurance system where all assignments are registered. RRV staff register every assignment directly at the site, using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. There is no mandatory information requirement or time limit for registration. The study includes data for all RRVs operating in Region Stockholm, three during daytime hours and one at night – from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Results In 2021, RRVs in Stockholm were dispatched on 11,283 occasions, of which 3,571 (31.6%) resulted in stand-downs. In general, stand-downs were less common for older patients. The most common dispatch category was blunt trauma (1,584 or 14.0%), which accounted for the highest frequency of stand-downs (676 or 6.0%). The second most common category was cardiac arrest (1,086 or 9.6%), followed by shortness of breath (691 or 6.1%), medical not specified (N/S) (596 or 5.3%), and seizures (572 or 5.1%). Conclusion The study findings confirm that RRVs provide valuable assistance to the ambulance service in Stockholm, especially for cardiac arrest and trauma patients. In particular, RRV personnel have more advanced medical knowledge and can administer medications and perform interventions that the regular ambulance service cannot provide.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00519-8PrehospitalRapid response vehicleScandinaviaSwedenTraumaCardiac arrest |
| spellingShingle | Erik Strandqvist Staffan Olheden Anders Bäckman Henrik Jörnvall Denise Bäckström Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia International Journal of Emergency Medicine Prehospital Rapid response vehicle Scandinavia Sweden Trauma Cardiac arrest |
| title | Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia |
| title_full | Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia |
| title_fullStr | Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia |
| title_short | Physician-staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow-up from an urban area in Scandinavia |
| title_sort | physician staffed prehospital units a retrospective follow up from an urban area in scandinavia |
| topic | Prehospital Rapid response vehicle Scandinavia Sweden Trauma Cardiac arrest |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00519-8 |
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