Association of Ambulance Diversion Policy on EMS Transport and Ambulance Patient Offload Times: A Comparison of Three Strategies.

Objectives: Despite limited supporting data, hospitals continue to apply ambulance diversion (AD). Thus, we examined the impact of three different diversion policies on diversion hours, transport time (TT; leaving scene to arrival at the hospital), and ambulance patient offload time (APOT; arrival at the hospital to patient turnover to hospital staff) for 9-1-1 transports in a 22-hospital county Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated metrics during periods of three AD policies, each 27 days long: hospital-initiated (Period 1), complete suspension (Period 2), and County EMS-initiated (Period 3).

Achieving Equity in EMS Care and Patient Outcomes Through Quality Management Systems: A Position Statement.

Improving health and safety in our communities requires deliberate focus and commitment to equity. Inequities are differences in access, treatment, and outcomes between individuals and across populations that are systemic, avoidable, and unjust. Within health care in general, and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in particular, there are demonstrated inequities in the quality of care provided to patients based on a number of characteristics linked to discrimination, exclusion, or bias.

Disparities in Emergency Medical Services Care Delivery in the United States: A Scoping Review.

Background: Emergency medical services (EMS) often serve as the first medical contact for ill or injured patients, representing a critical access point to the health care delivery continuum. While a growing body of literature suggests inequities in care within hospitals and emergency departments, limited research has comprehensively explored disparities related to patient demographic characteristics in prehospital care.

Objective: We aimed to summarize the existing literature on disparities in prehospital care delivery for patients identifying as members of an underrepresented race, ethnicity, sex, gender, or sexual orientation group.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the United States Emergency Medical Services Workforce: A Scoping Review.

Objective: Emergency medical services (EMS) workforce demographics in the United States do not reflect the diversity of the population served. Despite some efforts by professional organizations to create a more representative workforce, little has changed in the last decade. This scoping review aims to summarize existing literature on the demographic composition, recruitment, retention, and workplace experience of underrepresented groups within EMS.

Implementation of a standardized pregnancy screening process to address gender disparities in radiology turn-around-time and ED length of stay.

Objective: The objective of this initiative was to quantify and intervene upon suspected gender disparities in CT turn-around-time and emergency department (ED) length of stay.

Methods: This was a single-site before-after quality improvement initiative including patients aged 12-50 who underwent CT chest and/or abdomen/pelvis. The intervention included protocolization of the pregnancy screening process in triage.

Prehospital Airway Management Training and Education: An NAEMSP Position Statement and Resource Document.

AbstractAirway management competency extends beyond technical skills to encompass a comprehensive approach to optimize patient outcomes. Initial and continuing education for airway management must therefore extend beyond a narrow focus on psychomotor skills and task completion to include appreciation of underlying pathophysiology, clinical judgment, and higher-order decision making. NAEMSP recommends:Active engagement in deliberate practice should be the guiding approach for developing and maintaining competence in airway management.

Implementing a Patient Tracking System in a Large EMS System.

Accurate tracking of patients poses a significant challenge to prehospital and hospital emergency medical providers in planned and unplanned events. Previous reports on patient tracking systems are limited primarily to descriptive reports of post incident reviews or simulated exercises. Our objective is to report our experience with implementing a patient barcode tracking system during various planned events within a large urban EMS system.

Use of Incident Command System for Disaster Preparedness: A Model for an Emergency Department COVID-19 Response.

The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented demands on health systems, where hospitals have become overwhelmed with patients amidst limited resources. Disaster response and resource allocation during such crises present multiple challenges. A breakdown in communication and organization can lead to unnecessary disruptions and adverse events.