RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Epidemiology of non-transported emergency medical services calls in Saudi Arabia
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 575
OP 578
DO 10.15537/smj.2016.5.13872
VO 37
IS 5
A1 Alrazeeni, Daifallah M.
A1 Sheikh, Sikender A.
A1 Mobrad, Abdulmajeed
A1 Ghamdi, Mazen Al
A1 Abdulqader, Nabeel
A1 Gabgab, Mohammed Al
A1 Qahtani, Majed Al
A1 Khaldi, Bader Al
YR 2016
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/37/5/575.abstract
AB Objectives: To determine the epidemiology of non- transported emergency medical services (EMS) calls within the EMS system at Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to identify factors that contributes to non-transport of patients by EMS provider, and to recommend suggestions for reduction in number of non-transported calls.Methods: Retrospective analysis of 1390 patient care reports (PCR) of non-transported cases responded to, and documented by the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) emergency medical technicians (EMTs). All PCRs of non-transported cases from 10 EMS stations, in 3 consecutive months were examined. The SRCA EMTs management in Riyadh allocated all non-transported PCRs for 3 months (March-May 2014). Constructive data that includes patients demographics, scene characteristics, trip and timing information, length of stay, clinical and assessment data, and physician contact, or presence status were extracted from those PCRs.Results: Twenty-five percent of calls made during the study period were reported as non-transported calls. Seventy percent of non-transported calls were related to refusal by patient. Approximately 22.4% of non-transported calls were canceled by dispatch. Approximately 50% of non-transported patient were in the young age group (16-30 years). In 26% of non-transported calls, the field time was restricted to 15 minutes.Conclusion: More than half of the non-transported emergency calls were reported as refused by patient/relative, while approximately one quarter were reported as cancelled calls.