The Need for a New Approach to MCI Readiness in the Era of Emergency Department and Hospital Crowding.

Emergency department (ED) visit volumes have increased since 2007, with crowding in the United States reaching its highest levels in 2022. During this same period, mass casualty incidents (MCIs) have increased dramatically, both in frequency and severity, across the United States. Resuscitation of trauma patients is a time-sensitive process that requires immediate patient assessment by coordinated clinical teams in order to successfully diagnose and manage life-threatening injuries.

Factors Associated With Potentially Unnecessary Transfers for Children With Asthma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: Our objective was to identify the hospital- and community-related factors associated with the hospital-level rate of potentially unnecessary interfacility transfers (IFTs) for pediatric patients with asthma exacerbations.

Methods: We analyzed California Emergency Department (ED) data from 2016 to 2019 to capture ED visits where a pediatric patient (age, 2-17 years) presented with an asthma exacerbation and was transferred to another ED or acute care hospital. The primary outcome was hospital-level rate of potentially unnecessary IFTs, defined as a visit where length of stay after transfer was <24 hours and no advanced services (eg, critical care) were used.

Prehospital care for traumatic brain injuries: A review of U.S. state emergency medical services protocols.

Traumatic brain injury (TBIs) necessitates a rapid and comprehensive medical response to minimize secondary brain injury and reduce mortality. Emergency medical services (EMS) clinicians serve a critical role in the management of prehospital TBI, responding during an initial phase of care with significant impact on patient outcomes. We used versions two and three of the Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF) Prehospital Guidelines for the Management of Traumatic Brain Injury and the NASEMSO National Model Clinical Guidelines to determine key elements for a TBI prehospital protocol and included common factors across sources such as recommendations concerning patient monitoring, hypoxia, hypotension, hyperventilation, cerebral herniation, airway management, hyperosmolar therapy, and transport destination.

Patient-related Factors Associated with Potentially Unnecessary Transfers for Pediatric Patients with Asthma: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background/objective: Asthma is a common chronic medical condition among children and the most common diagnosis associated with interfacility transports for pediatric patients. As many as 40% of pediatric transfers may be unnecessary, resulting in potential delays in care and unnecessary costs. Our objective was to identify the patient-related factors associated with potentially unnecessary transfers for pediatric patients with asthma.

Implementation and Evaluation of a Bystander Naloxone Training Course.

Introduction: Bystander provision of naloxone is a key modality to reduce opioid overdose-related death. Naloxone training courses are available, but no standardized program exists. As part of a bystander empowerment course, we created and evaluated a brief naloxone training module.

Patients who use emergency medical services have greater severity of illness or injury compared to those who present to the emergency department via other means: A retrospective cohort study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the differences in characteristics and illness/injury severity among patients who present to the emergency department (ED) via emergency medical services (EMS) compared to patients who present via other means.

Methods: We analyzed a nationwide sample of ED visits from the 2015-2019 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. We excluded patients <18 or >92 years old, who eloped or left against medical advice, or who arrived via interfacility transport.

Emergency Medical Services Management of Bronchospasm in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Analysis and Nationwide Quality Assessment.

: Bronchospasm, caused by asthma and other related conditions, is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality commonly managed by emergency medical services (EMS). We aimed to evaluate the quality of prehospital management of bronchospasm by EMS in the US.: The National EMS Information System Public Release Research dataset, a nationwide convenience sample of prehospital patient care report data from 2018 to 2019, was used to capture 9-1-1 activations where patients aged ≥2 years were treated and transported by EMS for suspected bronchospasm.

A retrospective review of out of hospital cardiac arrest at Gillette Stadium: 10 years of experience at a large sports venue.

Introduction: Rates of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) at major sporting events are as high as 0.7 per 100,000 attendees. However, factors contributing to OHCA at mass gatherings have not been well-described.

Twenty Years After the EMS Research Agenda: Trends in Emergency Medical Services Publications and Research Funding.

Study Objective: Since its publication in 2001, the National EMS Research Agenda has brought attention to a relative paucity of emergency medical services (EMS)-specific research and has called for an increase in funding and infrastructure to support EMS research. We investigated the trends in EMS-specific publications and National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research grants in the 20 years since this landmark publication.

Methods: We performed a structured PubMed search of English-language citations from 2001 to 2020 to identify publications with populations, settings, or topics related to EMS care, education, or operations.

Out-of-Hospital Presentation and Management of Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations in the United States: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study.

Study Objective: To describe the demographic, clinical, and emergency medical service (EMS) response characteristics associated with EMS activations for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations in the US.

Methods: Using a nationwide set of out-of-hospital patient care report data from 2018 to 2019, we analyzed 9-1-1 EMS activations where asthma/COPD exacerbation was indicated by symptom, impression, or treatment provided. We excluded patients with ages less than 2 years or unknown, nonemergency transports, and encounters with any indication of anaphylaxis.

Association between EMS Workforce Density and Population Health Outcomes in the U.S.

Background: The prehospital care provided by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel is a critical component of the public health, public safety, and health care systems in the U.S.; however, the population-level value of EMS care is often overlooked.

Trends in demographic and employment characteristics of US emergency medical technicians and paramedics, 2011-2019.

Background: Describing the US emergency medical services workforce is important to understand gaps in recruitment and retention and inform efforts to improve diversity. Our objective was to describe the characteristics and temporal trends of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics in the United States.

Methods: We performed a repeated cross-sectional evaluation of US Census Bureau's American Community Survey 1-year Public Use Microdata Sample data sets from 2011-2019.

Objective Measurement of Learners' Cognitive Load During Simulation-Based Trauma Team Training: A Pilot Study.

Introduction: Literature has shown cognitive overload which can negatively impact learning and clinical performance in surgery. We investigated learners' cognitive load during simulation-based trauma team training using an objective digital biomarker.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in a simulation center where a 3-h simulation-based interprofessional trauma team training program was conducted.

Critical Concepts for COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Site Operations.

Mass vaccination campaigns have been used effectively to limit the impact of communicable disease on public health. However, the scale of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination campaign is unprecedented. Mass vaccination sites consolidate resources and experience into a single entity and are essential to achieving community ("herd") immunity rapidly, efficiently, and equitably.

Association between sleep characteristics, ideal cardiovascular health, and systemic inflammation, NHANES 2017-2018.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the associations between sleep deprivation and inflammatory biomarkers indicative of cardiovascular disease risk, such as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). The association between sleep habits and hsCRP was quantified in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States and mediation by ideal cardiovascular health metrics was explored. A cross-sectional analysis of cardiovascular disease-free participants aged 20-79 years from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted.

The impact of COVID-19 on statewide EMS use for cardiac emergencies and stroke in Massachusetts.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on emergency medical services (EMS) use for time-sensitive medical conditions. We examined EMS use for cardiac arrest, stroke, and other cardiac emergencies across Massachusetts during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluating their relationship to statewide COVID-19 incidence and a statewide emergency declaration.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of all EMS calls between February 15 and May 15, 2020 and the same time period for 2019.

Ambulance Calls for Substance-Related Issues Before and After COVID-19.

: The United States is currently facing 2 epidemics: sustained morbidity and mortality from substance use and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic. We tested the hypothesis that the pandemic has disproportionately affected individuals with substance use disorder by evaluating average daily 9-1-1 ambulance calls for substance use-related issues compared with all other calls. : This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 9-1-1 ambulance calls before and after the start of COVID-19 in Massachusetts.

Home-based Testing for SARS-CoV-2: Leveraging Prehospital Resources for Vulnerable Populations.

Introduction: Expanded testing for SARS-CoV-2 is critical to characterizing the extent of community spread of COVID-19 and to identifying infectious cohorts. Unfortunately, current facility-based testing compounds shortcomings in testing availability, neglecting those who are frail or physically unable to travel to a testing facility.

Methods: We developed an emergency medical service (EMS)-based home testing and evaluation program, leveraging existing community EMS resources.

Presymptomatic Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Among Residents and Staff at a Skilled Nursing Facility: Results of Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction and Serologic Testing.

High rates of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 infection suggest benefits to routine testing in congregate care settings. Screening was undertaken in a single nursing facility without a known case of coronavirus disease 2019, demonstrating an 85% prevalence among residents and 37% among staff. Serology was not helpful in identifying infections.

Defining a Research Agenda for Layperson Prehospital Hemorrhage Control: A Consensus Statement.

Importance: Trauma is the leading cause of death for US individuals younger than 45 years, and uncontrolled hemorrhage is a major cause of trauma mortality. The US military's medical advancements in the field of prehospital hemorrhage control have reduced battlefield mortality by 44%. However, despite support from many national health care organizations, no integrated approach to research has been made regarding implementation, epidemiology, education, and logistics of prehospital hemorrhage control by layperson immediate responders in the civilian sector.