Predictive modelling of transport decisions and resources optimisation in pre-hospital setting using machine learning techniques.

Background: The global evolution of pre-hospital care systems faces dynamic challenges, particularly in multinational settings. Machine learning (ML) techniques enable the exploration of deeply embedded data patterns for improved patient care and resource optimisation. This study's objective was to accurately predict cases that necessitated transportation versus those that did not, using ML techniques, thereby facilitating efficient resource allocation.

Epidemiology of prehospital emergency calls according to patient transport decision in a middle eastern emergency care environment: Retrospective cohort-based.

Background And Aim: Though emergency medical services (EMS) respond to all types of emergency calls, they do not always result in the patient being transported to the hospital. This study aimed to explore the determinants influencing emergency call-response-based conveyance decisions in a Middle Eastern ambulance service.

Methods: This retrospective quantitative analysis of 93,712 emergency calls to the Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service (HMCAS) between January 1 and May 31, 2023, obtained from the HMCAS electronic system, was analyzed to determine pertinent variables.

Enhancing Patient Safety in Prehospital Environment: Analyzing Patient Perspectives on Non-Transport Decisions With Natural Language Processing and Machine Learning.

Objective: This research explored the experiences and perspectives of patients declining hospital transportation after receiving prehospital emergency care using advanced computational techniques.

Method: Between 15th June and 1st August 2023, 210 patients in Qatar, treated by Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service (HMCAS) but refusing transportation to hospital, were interviewed. Key outcome variables stratified by demographics included "reasons for refusing transport," "satisfaction with HMCAS service," and "postrefusal actions.

Understanding patient non-transport decision theories in the pre-hospital setting: a narrative review.

Background: In pre-hospital emergency care, decisions regarding patient non-conveyance emerged as significant determinants of healthcare outcomes and resource utilization. These complex decisions became integral to the progress of emergency medical services, thus warranting an evolving exploration within the medical discourse.

Objectives And Methods: This narrative review aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate various theoretical stances on patient non-conveyance in the pre-hospital emergency.

Can we use normal saline stored under stress conditions? A simulated prehospital emergency medical setting.

Background: Data on stability and suitability to use normal saline stored under stress conditions in ambulances is lacking.

Objective: We aimed to study the impact of exposure to extreme temperature variations on normal saline stability and compatibility with its packaging.

Methods: Normal saline in 96 polyolefin bags were exposed to continuous temperature of 22, 50, and 70 °C or to a cyclic temperature of 70 °C per 8 h and 22 °C per 16 h.

Epidemiological Determinants of Patient Non-Conveyance to the Hospital in an Emergency Medical Service Environment.

Background: The increasing prevalence of comorbidities worldwide has spurred the need for time-effective pre-hospital emergency medical services (EMS). Some pre-hospital emergency calls requesting EMS result in patient non-conveyance. Decisions for non-conveyance are sometimes driven by the patient or the clinician, which may jeopardize the patients' healthcare outcomes.

Quality improvement tools to manage emergency callbacks from patients with diabetes in a prehospital setting.

Diabetes is rising at an alarming rate, as 1 in 10 adults worldwide now lives with the disease. In Qatar, a middle eastern Arab country, diabetes prevalence is equally concerning and is predicted to increase from 17% to 24% among individuals aged 45 and 54 years by 2050. While most healthcare strategies focus on preventative and improvement of in-hospital care of patients with diabetes, a notable paucity exists concerning diabetes in the prehospital setting should ideally be provided.

Retrospective identification of medication related adverse events in the emergency medical services through the analysis of a patient safety register.

Adverse drug events encompass a wide range of potential unintended and harmful events, from adverse drug reactions to medication errors, many of which in retrospect, are considered preventable. However, the primary challenge towards reducing their burden lies in consistently identifying and monitoring these occurrences, a challenge faced across the spectrum of healthcare, including the emergency medical services. The aim of this study was to identify and describe medication related adverse events (AEs) in the out-of-hospital setting.

Implementation of a drive-through testing clinic in Qatar for residents having recently returned from a country with a COVID-19 travel warning.

Introduction: The spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused chaos around the world. At the onset of the virus' detection in the State of Qatar, a free-testing system was rapidly established to invite individuals who had recently returned from countries with a COVID-19 disease travel warning to avoid putting other people at risk. The testing site needed to be accessible to individuals without requiring them to enter the hospital and congregate in a waiting area.

Critical Care Network in the State of Qatar.

Critical care is a multidisciplinary and interprofessional specialty providing comprehensive care to patients in an acute life-threatening, but treatable condition. The aim is to prevent further physiological deterioration while the failing organ is treated. Patients admitted to a critical care unit normally need constant attention from specialist nursing and therapy staff at an appropriate ratio, continuous, uninterrupted physiological monitoring supervised by staff that are able to interpret and immediately act on the information, continuous clinical direction and care from a specialist consultant-led medical team trained and able to provide appropriate cover for each critical care unit, and artificial organ support and advanced therapies which are only safe to administer in the above environment.

Improving the prehospital management of ST elevation myocardial infarction: a national quality improvement initiative.

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a time-dependent clinical emergency. Early recognition and intervention in the clinical course of STEMI are key to reducing mortality and morbidity. As a result, the benefits of the prehospital management of patients presenting with STEMI are well supported by the literature.

Application of the emergency medical services trigger tool to measure adverse events in prehospital emergency care: a time series analysis.

Background: Emergency Care has previously been identified as an area of significant concern regarding the prevalence of Adverse Events (AEs). However, the majority of this focus has been on the in-hospital setting, with little understanding of the identification and incidence of AEs in the prehospital environment.

Method: The early development and testing of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) specific triggers for the identification of AEs and Harm has been previously described.

Application of a Healthcare Failure Modes and Effects Analysis to Identify and Mitigate Potential Risks in the Implementation of a National Prehospital Pediatric Rapid Sequence Intubation Program.

Introduction: Rapid sequence intubation (RSI) has become the de facto airway method of choice in the emergency airway management of adult and pediatric patients. There is significant controversy regarding pediatric RSI in the prehospital setting, given not only the complexities inherent in both the procedure and patient population, but in variations in emergency medical service models, prehospital qualifications, scope of practice, and patient exposure too.

Methods: A Healthcare Failure Mode and Effects Analysis was conducted to identify and mitigate potential hazards in the national implementation of a prehospital pediatric RSI program.

Development of a trigger tool to identify adverse events and harm in Emergency Medical Services.

Background: Adverse event detection in healthcare has traditionally relied upon several methods including: patient care documentation review, mortality and morbidity review, voluntary reporting, direct observation and complaint systems. A novel sampling strategy, known as the trigger tool (TT) methodology, has been shown to provide a more robust and valid method of detection. The aim of this research was to develop and assess a TT specific to ground-based Emergency Medical Services, to identify cases with the potential risk for adverse events and harm.

Epidemiology and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Qatar: A nationwide observational study.

Background: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) studies from the Middle East and Asian region are limited. This study describes the epidemiology, emergency health services, and outcomes of OHCA in Qatar.

Methods: This was a prospective nationwide population-based observational study on OHCA patients in Qatar according to Utstein style guidelines, from June 2012 to May 2013.