Emergency Medical Services Provider Perspectives on Pediatric Calls: A Qualitative Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 501-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica N. Jeruzal ◽  
Lori L. Boland ◽  
Monica S. Frazer ◽  
Jonathan W. Kamrud ◽  
Russell N. Myers ◽  
...  
2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seth A. Brown ◽  
Theresa C. Hayden ◽  
Kimberly A. Randell ◽  
Lara Rappaport ◽  
Michelle D. Stevenson ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectivesPrevious studies have illustrated pediatric knowledge deficits among Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers. The purpose of this study was to identify perspectives of a diverse group of EMS providers regarding pediatric prehospital care educational deficits and proposed methods of training improvements.MethodsPurposive sampling was used to recruit EMS providers in diverse settings for study participation. Two separate focus groups of EMS providers (administrative and non-administrative personnel) were held in three locations (urban, suburban, and rural). A professional moderator facilitated focus group discussion using a guide developed by the study team. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze data.ResultsForty-two participants provided data. Four major themes were identified: (1) suboptimal previous pediatric training and training gaps in continuing pediatric education; (2) opportunities for improved interactions with emergency department (ED) staff, including case-based feedback on patient care; (3) barriers to optimal pediatric prehospital care; and (4) proposed pediatric training improvements.ConclusionFocus groups identified four themes surrounding preparation of EMS personnel for providing care to pediatric patients. These themes can guide future educational interventions for EMS to improve pediatric prehospital care.BrownSA, HaydenTC, RandellKA, RappaportL, StevensonMD, KimIK. Improving pediatric education for Emergency Medical Services providers: a qualitative study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):20–26.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 556-563
Author(s):  
Rachel O'Hara ◽  
Lindsey Bishop-Edwards ◽  
Emma Knowles ◽  
Alicia O'Cathain

BackgroundAn emergency ambulance is not always the appropriate response for emergency medical service patients. Telephone advice aims to resolve low acuity calls over the phone, without sending an ambulance. In England, variation in rates of telephone advice and patient recontact between services raises concerns about inequities in care. To understand this variation, this study aimed to explore operational factors influencing the provision of telephone advice.MethodsThis is a multimethod qualitative study in three emergency medical services in England with different rates of telephone advice and recontact. Non-participant observation (120 hours) involved 20 call handlers and 27 clinicians (eg, paramedics). Interviews were conducted with call handlers, clinicians and clinician managers (n=20).ResultsServices varied in their views of the role of telephone advice, selection of their workforce, tasks clinicians were expected and permitted to do, and access to non-ambulance responses. Telephone advice was viewed either as an acceptable approach to managing demand or a way of managing risk. The workforce could be selected for their expertise or their inability to work ‘on-the-road’. Some services permitted proactive identification of calls for a lower priority response and provided access to a wider range of response options. The findings aligned with telephone advice rates for each service, particularly explaining why one service had lower rates.ConclusionSome of the variation observed can be explained by operational differences between services and some of it by access to alternative response options in the wider urgent and emergency care system. The findings indicate scope for greater consistency in the delivery of telephone advice to ensure the widest range of options to meet the needs of different populations, regardless of geographical location.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 172-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nichole Bosson ◽  
Michael A. Redlener ◽  
George L. Foltin ◽  
Maria C. Raven ◽  
Mark P Foran ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Amber Mehmood ◽  
Shirin Wadhwaniya ◽  
Esther Bayiga Zziwa ◽  
Olive C Kobusingye

Abstract Background Emergency care services in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) have traditionally received less attention in the dominant culture favouring vertical health programs. The unmet needs of pre-hospital and hospital-based emergency services are high but the barriers to accessing safe and quality emergency medical services (EMS) remain largely unaddressed. Few studies in Sub-Saharan Africa have qualitatively investigated barriers to EMS use, and quality of pre-hospital services from the providers and community perspective. We conducted a qualitative study to describe the patient-centred approach to emergency care in Kampala, Uganda, with specific attention to access to EMS.Methods The data collection was comprised of Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with the community members. KII participants were selected using maximum purposive sampling based on expert knowledge of emergency care systems, and service delivery. FGDs were conducted to understand perceptions and experiences towards access to pre-hospital care, and to explore barriers to utilization of EMS. The respondents of ten KII and seven FGDs included pre-hospital EMS (PEMS) administrators, policy makers, police, health workers and community members. We conducted a directed content analysis to identify key themes and triangulate findings across different informant groups.Results Key themes emerged across interviews and discussions concerning: (1) lack of funds, (2) lack of standards, (3) need for upfront payments for emergency transport and care, 4) corruption, 5) poor quality pre-hospital emergency service, 6) poor quality hospital emergency care, and 7) delay in seeking treatment.Conclusions Patient-centred emergency care should be an integral part of comprehensive health care services. As Uganda and other LMICs continue to strive for universal health coverage, it is critical to prioritize and integrate emergency care within health systems owing to its cross-cutting nature. Community perceptions around access and quality of PEMS should be addressed in national policies covering affordable and safe EMS.


2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 478-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Joseph Leggio

AbstractObjectiveThis study investigated how leadership is learned in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from a multi-national perspective by interviewing EMS providers from multiple nations working in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.MethodsA phenomenological, qualitative methodology was developed and 19 EMS providers from multiple nations were interviewed in June 2013. Interview questions focused on how participants learned EMS leadership as an EMS student and throughout their careers as providers. Data were analyzed to identify themes, patterns, and codes to be used for final analysis to describe findings.ResultsEmergency Medical Services leadership is primarily learned from informal mentoring and on-the-job training in less than supportive environments. Participants described learning EMS leadership during their EMS education. A triangulation of EMS educational resources yielded limited results beyond being a leader of patient care. The only course that yielded results from triangulation was EMS Management. The need to develop EMS leadership courses was supported by the findings. Findings also supported the need to include leadership education as part of continuing medical education and training.ConclusionEmergency Medical Services leadership education that prepares students for the complexities of the profession is needed. Likewise, the need for EMS leadership education and training to be part of continuing education is supported. Both are viewed as a way to advance the EMS profession. A need for further research on the topic of EMS leadership is recognized, and supported, with a call for action on suggested topics identified within the study.LeggioWJJr. The state of leadership education in Emergency Medical Services: a multi-national qualitative study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(5):1-6.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Dehghan-Nayeri ◽  
Hassan Nouri-Sari ◽  
Fatemeh Bahramnezhad ◽  
Fatemeh Hajibabaee ◽  
Mojtaba Senmar

Abstract Background Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest is a common and fatal problem. Rescuing patients with this problem by pre-hospital emergency medical services is associated with various barriers and facilitators. Identifying these barriers as well as the facilitators in a qualitative and an information-rich way will help to improve the quality of performing the maneuver and to increase the patients’ survival. Therefore, the current study was qualitatively conducted with the aim of identifying the factors affecting the cardiopulmonary resuscitation within the pre-hospital emergency medical services. Methods This qualitative study was conducted using a content analysis approach in Iran in 2021. The participants were 16 Iranian emergency medical technicians who were selected through a purposive sampling method. For data collection, in-depth and semi-structured interviews were conducted. For data analysis, the Elo and Kyngäs method was applied. Results The mean participants’ age was 33.06 ± 7.85 years, and their mean work experience was 10.62 ± 6.63 years. The collected information was categorized into one main category called “complex context of the cardiopulmonary resuscitation” and 5 general categories with 17 subcategories. These categories and subcategories include patient condition (patient’s underlying diseases, age, high weight, number of children, and place of living), dominant atmosphere in companions at home (companions’ feeling of agitation, companions doing harm, and companions helping), policy (educational policy, human resource policy, up-to-date equipment and technology, and do-not-resuscitate policy), performance of the out-of-organizational system (disorganization in the patient handover process, and cooperation of the support organizations), and conditions related to the treatment team (conscience, cultural dominance, and shift burden). Conclusions The results showed that the conditions related to the patient and his/her companions, as well as the organizational factors such as the policies and the out-of-organizational factors act as the barriers and the facilitators to the cardiopulmonary resuscitation within pre-hospital emergency medical services. Therefore, the barriers can be modified and the facilitators can be enhanced by taking various measures such as educating, human resource policy-making, upgrading the equipment, and considering appropriate management policies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janice Halpern ◽  
Maria Gurevich ◽  
Brian Schwartz ◽  
Paulette Brazeau

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