The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services (한국응급구조학회지)

The Korea Society of Emergency Medical Services (한국응급구조학회)
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Changes in the characteristics of patients transferred to the emergency room through private institutions during inter-hospital transport after the COVID-19 outbreak : A retrospective study

COVID-19 발현 이후 병원간 이송 시 민간 이송업체를 통해 응급실로 전원된 환자들의 특성 변화 : 후향적 연구

  • Kim, Seong-Ju (Department of Emergency Medical Service, Dongju University) ;
  • Ji, Jae-Gu (Department of Emergency Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital) ;
  • Jang, Yun-Deok (Department of Emergency Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Si-Weon (Department of Emergency Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital) ;
  • Yu, Jae-Kwang (Department of Emergency Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital) ;
  • Kang, Ji-Hun (Department of Emergency Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital)
  • Received : 2021.03.01
  • Accepted : 2021.04.20
  • Published : 2021.04.30
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Abstract

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine the changes in the pattern of patients who were transferred to the emergency room through inter-hospital private institutions and to determine how long transport takes following the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the emergency medical services reports of private institutions following the COVID-19 outbreak in South Korea. The study was conducted in Busan between January 19, 2019 and January 18, 2020, and between January 19, 2020 and January 18, 2021. Results: Upon comparing the patient transport times during the "Pre-COVID-19 period" and "COVID-19 period," a significant delay was noticed in the preparation for transfer of patients during the "COVID-19 period" (p<.05). There were significantly more patients with respiratory infections and patients who complained of general symptoms during the "COVID-19 period." Moreover, there was a higher frequency of patients who were transferred to a 'Level I' emergency room during the "COVID-19 period" compared to during the "Pre-COVID-19 period" (p<.05). Conclusion: Following the COVID-19 outbreak, there is a delay in patient transport to the emergency room through private institution inter-hospital transport and an increase in the number of patients complaining of respiratory infection symptoms. Thus, emergency medical services need additional administrative and economic support to transport infected patients.

Keywords

References

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