Dispatch accuracy of physician-staffed emergency medical services in trauma care in south-east Norway: a retrospective observational study.

Background: Selection of incidents and accurate identification of patients that require assistance from physician-staffed emergency medical services (P-EMS) remain essential. We aimed to evaluate P-EMS availability, the underlying criteria for dispatch, and the corresponding dispatch accuracy of trauma care in south-east Norway in 2015, to identify areas for improvement.

Methods: Pre-hospital data from emergency medical coordination centres and P-EMS medical databases were linked with data from the Norwegian Trauma Registry (NTR).

Major incident management by helicopter emergency medical services in south-east Norway from 2000 to 2016: Retrospective cohort study.

Background: Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and search and rescue helicopters (SAR) aim to bring specialized personnel to major incidents and transport patients to definite care, but their operational pattern remains poorly described. We aim to describe the use of HEMS and SAR in major incidents in Norway and investigate the feasibility of retrospectively collecting uniform data from incident reports.

Methods: We searched HEMS medical databases from three HEMS and one SAR base in south-east Norway for the written reports of incidents from 2000 to 2016.

Time Course of Hoist Operations by the Search and Rescue Helicopter Service in Southeast Norway.

Introduction: Optimal dispatch of emergency medical services relies on accurate time estimates of the various prehospital stages. Hoist rescue work time intervals performed by the search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service in Norway have not been studied to date. We aimed to describe the epidemiologic, operational, and medical aspects of the SAR service in southeast Norway.

Static Rope Evacuation by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Rescue Operations in Southeast Norway.

Introduction: Physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in Norway are an adjunct to existing search and rescue services. Our aims were to study the epidemiological, operational, and medical aspects of HEMS daylight static rope operations performed in the southeastern part of the country and to examine several quality dimensions that are characteristic of this service.

Methods: We reviewed the static rope operations performed at 3 HEMS bases during a 3-y period and applied a set of quality indicators designed for physician-staffed emergency medical services to evaluate the quality of care.

Improving outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by strengthening weak links of the local Chain of Survival; quality of advanced life support and post-resuscitation care.

Background: Survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) depends on a well functioning Chain of Survival. We wanted to assess if targeted attempts to strengthen the weak links of our local chain; quality of advanced life support (ALS) and post-resuscitation care, would improve outcome.

Materials And Methods: Utstein data from all OHCAs in Oslo during three distinct 2-year time periods 1996-1998, 2001-2003 and 2004-2005 were collected.

Progressing from initial non-shockable rhythms to a shockable rhythm is associated with improved outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Cardiac arrest patients with initial non-shockable rhythm progressing to shockable rhythm have been reported to have inferior outcome to those remaining non-shockable. We wanted to confirm this observation in our prospectively collected database, and assess whether differences in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) quality could help to explain any such difference in outcome.

Materials And Methods: All out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases in the Oslo EMS between May 2003 and April 2008 were retrospectively studied, and cases with initial asystole or pulseless electrical activity (PEA) were selected.