Accuracy of dispatch and prehospital triage performance in poisonings - A retrospective study from northern Finland.

Background: Increasing numbers of dispatches place a burden on EMS; this study sought to assess the prehospital evaluation of poisoned patients transported to hospital. The primary aim of this study was to measure dispatch centre and EMS provider performance as well as factors contributing to the recognition of poisoning among prehospital patients. The secondary aim was to compare triage performance between dispatch centres and EMS providers.

Emergency department admission and mortality of the non-transported emergency medical service patients: a cohort study from Northern Finland.

Objectives: A high number of emergency medical service (EMS) patients are not transported to hospital by ambulance. Various non-transport protocols and guidelines have been implemented by different EMS providers. The present study examines subsequent tertiary care ED and hospital admission and mortality of the patients assessed and not transported by EMS in Northern Finland and evaluates the factors predicting these outcomes.

Early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and social restrictions on ambulance missions.

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a major impact on health care services globally. Recent studies report that emergency departments have experienced a significant decline in the number of admitted patients in the early phase of the pandemic. To date, research regarding the influence of COVID-19 on emergency medical services (EMS) is limited.

Use of prehospital emergency medical services according to income of residential area.

Background: The increasing usage of emergency medical services (EMS) missions is a challenge in modern practice. This study was designed to examine the association of the income level of residential areas on the rate of EMS missions and the frequency of EMS use in these areas.

Methods: All EMS missions for adult patients (>18 years) encountered by one rescue department in Northern Finland between June 2015 and May 2017 were analysed.