Objective:
To evaluate the appropriateness of the medical procedures and interventions employed in ambulances regarding patients brought into the emergency department (ED) as recorded by paramedic trainees.
Materials and Methods:
The study was conducted in the EDs of two urban community hospital in Izmir, between October 10th and December 1st, 2001. A total of 81 patients brought into the emergency department via ambulances were enrolled. Demographic data, employment of trauma board, cervical collar, emergent problems regarding airway patency, breathing and circulation coupled with procedures undertaken to fix them were recorded by paramedic trainees in both EDs. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and ANOVA.
Results:
The age range of the subjects was 4 to 89 and mean age ±SD was 47.54±2.36. Male / female ratio was 1.57. Airway maneuvers were only applied to the patients with airway and breathing problems (p=0.000). IV lines were not significantly related to the presence of circulatory impairments (p=0.053). Findings in 23 patients prompted utilization of trauma board and cervical collar, though only 9 (39.1%) were applied trauma board and 6 (26.1%) received cervical collar.
Conclusion:
Basic procedures applied to patients brought into the emergency department via ambulances can be considered as unsatisfactory. In-service education of the medical staff in ambulances should be reemphasized.
Keywords: Prehospital emergency care, ground ambulance, emergency transport, emergency department