Trends of pre-hospital emergency medical services activity over 10 years : a population-based registry analysis

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Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_0919164DEBEA
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Trends of pre-hospital emergency medical services activity over 10 years : a population-based registry analysis
Journal
Bmc Health Services Research
Author(s)
Pittet V., Burnand B., Yersin B., Carron P.N.
ISSN
1472-6963 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
1472-6963
Publication state
Published
Issued date
09/2014
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
14
Number
1
Pages
380
Language
english
Notes
IUMSP2014/09
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The number of requests to pre-hospital emergency medical services (PEMS) has increased in Europe over the last 20 years, but epidemiology of PEMS interventions has little be investigated. The aim of this analysis was to describe time trends of PEMS activity in a region of western Switzerland.
METHODS: Use of data routinely and prospectively collected for PEMS intervention in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland, from 2001 to 2010. This Swiss Canton comprises approximately 10% of the whole Swiss population.
RESULTS: We observed a 40% increase in the number of requests to PEMS between 2001 and 2010. The overall rate of requests was 35/1000 inhabitants for ambulance services and 10/1000 for medical interventions (SMUR), with the highest rate among people aged ≥ 80. Most frequent reasons for the intervention were related to medical problems, predominantly unconsciousness, chest pain respiratory distress, or cardiac arrest, whereas severe trauma interventions decreased over time. Overall, 89% were alive after 48 h. The survival rate after 48 h increased regularly for cardiac arrest or myocardial infarction.
CONCLUSION: Routine prospective data collection of prehospital emergency interventions and monitoring of activity was feasible over time. The results we found add to the understanding of determinants of PEMS use and need to be considered to plan use of emergency health services in the near future. More comprehensive analysis of the quality of services and patient safety supported by indicators are also required, which might help to develop prehospital emergency services and new processes of care.
Keywords
Pre-hospital emergency medical services, Epidemiology, Health Services, Public Health, Registers, Activity indicators
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Create date
30/10/2014 9:35
Last modification date
20/08/2019 12:31
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