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http://dx.doi.org/10.14408/KJEMS.2021.25.2.145

Change in the severity of patients visiting emergency medical centers through the 119 ambulance during the COVID-19 pandemic  

Kim, Yong-Joon (Department of Emergency Medicine, SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center)
Lee, Kyoung-Youl (Department of Emergency Medical Service, Kongju National University)
Publication Information
The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services / v.25, no.2, 2021 , pp. 145-156 More about this Journal
Abstract
Purpose: Despite the fact that emergency medical centers (ED) are used by emergency patients, more than 50% of non-emergency patients have been reported to be admitted in EDs, of which more than 10% of them used the 119 ambulance. Therefore, this study investigated whether there was a change in the severity of patients visiting EDs during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients who visited the ED through the 119 ambulance in 2019 (13,735) and 2020 (11,015). Patient data were analyzed using the medical information system. Results: There was an increase in non-emergency patients at the emergency departments (KTAS levels 4-5) in 2020 with a rate of 58.0% (6,393), as compared to the 2019 data with a rate of 44.9% (6,169). However, the 2020 median length of stay in the emergency department was 188 minutes (IQR: 0-5,909minutes) (p=.000), which was decreased as compared to the 2019 median length of stay of 231 minutes (IQR: 5-6,211minutes) (p=.003). Conclusion: Providing emergency ambulance guidelines for selecting proper hospitals and educating patients to refrain from using the ED for non-emergency patients should be taken into consideration to prevent overcrowding and construct a more effective emergency medical system (EMS).
Keywords
Emergency department; KTAS Level; Over crowding; COVID-19;
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