The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services (한국응급구조학회지)

The Korea Society of Emergency Medical Services (한국응급구조학회)
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Collateral damage of emergency medical services due to COVID-19

COVID-19에 의한 EMS 동반손상

  • Lee, Nam-Jin (119 Emergency Medical Services Team, Daejeon Seobu Fire Station) ;
  • Yang, Jin-Cheol (Daejeon metropolitan city Fire Headquarters Rescue and Emergency Medical Service Division) ;
  • Moon, Jun-dong (Department of Emergency Medical Service, Kongju National University)
  • Received : 2021.11.02
  • Accepted : 2021.12.28
  • Published : 2021.12.31
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Abstract

Purpose: We aimed to provide effective emergency medical services (EMS) response strategies for coping with high acuity patients during the pandemic by analyzing the influence of the COVID-19 and social distancing on EMS. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the distribution of high acuity patients transported by Daejeon 1-1-9 EMS during the COVID-19 pandemic period, between February 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020 and the same period in 2019, as well as the level 3 social distancing enforced period, between July 27, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Results: The EMS dispatches decreased by 17% during the observed COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the same period in 2019. The number of cases with cardiac arrest and positive prehospital stroke scale rose by (p<.001). Patients with cardiac arrest, trauma, and positive prehospital stroke scale increased by during the level 3 social distancing period. Conclusion: Unlike the decreased EMS call volume and patient transports during the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac arrest cases and the severity of high acuity patients tended to increase. We suggest that EMS systems should contrive a response strategy considering the collateral effect of major epidemics on the incidence rate of high acuity patients.

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References

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