Patterns of use of emergency medical transport: A population-based study

doi:10.1016/S0735-6757(00)90002-0

The American Journal of Emergency Medicine

Volume 18, Issue 2, March 2000, Pages 130-134

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-6757(00)90002-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

The objective of this study was to characterize population-based emergency medical service (EMS) use rates and examine some of the factors associated with usage of prehospital services. The design was a population-based observational study with multiple regression analysis. Transports reported by prehospital services to the Kentucky Emergency Medical Services Information System from Kentucky counties in which all EMS units submit computerized data was the data source. There were 102,321 emergent transports reported. The overall rate of use of EMS transports was 51.7 ± 24.1/1,000/year, but the rate varied between different communities (range 11 to 139/1,000/year). Rate of use was highest in those older than 65 (178.5 ± 84.2/1,000/year), with the rate increasing expoentially with increasing age in this age group. Reasons for transport were age dependent. There was an association between increasing poverty level and use of EMS. In addition, the absence of 911 service (odds ratio [OR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI; 1.14, 1.22]) and the absence of a hospital in the county (OR 1.27, 95% CI [1.24, 1.30]) were also associated with increasing rates of ambulance use. Rates of use of EMS are most dependent on age and cause, but use is also correlated with increasing levels of poverty. Wide variations in use between communities suggests that point estimates using one community may over- or underestimate EMS usage.

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The area level classification might not reflect that of an individual, and ambulance dispatches may not reflect the suburb of residence of the individual. Furthermore, older, remote and socially disadvantaged groups are more likely to use ambulance transport to hospital rather than other means of transport (Svenson, 2000), therefore making this study less generalisable to the whole population who may use other means of transport to hospital or seek alternative forms of health care for similar conditions (for example, primary healthcare). Our study results are broadly consistent with similar studies conducted in Australia, especially Turner et al. (2013), who found increases in ambulance dispatches in Brisbane during heatwaves for the whole study population, for those over 65, and for those with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
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Original contributionPatterns of use of emergency medical transport: A population-based study

Abstract

Ann Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Am J Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Ann Emerg Med

Conn Med

Ann Emerg Med

Patterns of use of the emergency department by elderly patients

J Gerontol

The use and abuse of the emergency ambulance service: Some of the factors affecting the decision whether to call an emergency ambulance

Arch Emerg Med

Original contribution
Patterns of use of emergency medical transport: A population-based study