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Swan D, Baumstark L. Does Every Minute Really Count? Road Time as an Indicator for the Economic Value of Emergency Medical Services. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2022; 25:400-408. [PMID: 35227452 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 08/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This article builds on the literature regarding the association between emergency medical service (EMS) response times and patient outcomes (death and severe injury). Three issues are addressed in this article with respect to the empirical estimation of this relationship: the endogeneity of response time (systematically quicker response for higher degrees of urgency), the nonlinearity of this relationship, and the variation between such estimations for different patient outcomes. METHODS Binomial and multinomial logistic regression models are used to estimate the impact of response time on the probabilities of death and severe injury using data from French Fire and Rescue Services. These models are developed with response time as an explanatory variable and then with road time (dispatch to arrival) hypothesized as representing the exogenous variation within response time. Both models are also applied to data subsets based on response time intervals. RESULTS The results show that road time yields a higher estimate for the impact of response time on patient outcomes than (total) response time. The impact of road time on patient outcomes is also shown to be nonlinear. These results are of both statistical significance (model coefficients are significant at the 95% confidence level) and economical significance (when taking into account the number of annual interventions performed). CONCLUSIONS When using heterogeneous data on EMS interventions where endogeneity is a clear issue, road time is a more reliable indicator to estimate the impact of EMS response time on patient outcomes than (total) response time.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Swan
- Univ Lyon, Université Lumière Lyon 2, GATE UMR 5824, Ecully, France; Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Interdisciplinaires sur la Sécurité Civile, Aix-en-Provence, France.
| | - Luc Baumstark
- Univ Lyon, Université Lumière Lyon 2, GATE UMR 5824, Ecully, France
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Pinet-Peralta LM, Glos LJ, Sanna E, Frankel B, Lindqvist E. EMS utilization predictors in a Mobile Integrated Health (MIH) program. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2021; 21:40. [PMID: 33541350 PMCID: PMC7863316 DOI: 10.1186/s12911-021-01409-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The provision of unnecessary Emergency Medical Services care remains a challenge throughout the US and contributes to Emergency Department overcrowding, delayed services and lower quality of care. New EMS models of care have shown promise in improving access to health services for patients who do not need urgent care. The goals of this study were (1) to identify factors associated with EMS utilization (911) and (2) their effects on total EMS calls and transports in an MIH program. METHODS The study sample included 110 MIH patients referred to the program or considered high-users of EMS services between November 2016 and September 2018. The study employed descriptive statistics and Poisson regressions to estimate the effects of covariates on total EMS calls and transports. RESULTS The typical enrollee is a 60-year-old single Black male living with two other individuals. He has a PCP, takes 12 medications and is compliant with his treatment. The likelihood of calling and/or being transported by EMS was higher for males, patients at high risk for falls, patients with asthma/COPD, psychiatric or behavioral illnesses, and longer travel times to a PCP. Each prescribed medication increased the risk for EMS calls or transports by 4%. The program achieved clear reductions in 911 calls and transports and savings of more than 140,000 USD in the first month. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that age, marital status, high fall risk scores, the number of medications, psychiatric/behavioral illness, asthma/COPD, CHF, CVA/stroke and medication compliance may be good predictors of EMS use in an MIH setting. MIH programs can help control utilization of EMS care and reduce both EMS calls and transports.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis M Pinet-Peralta
- Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
| | - Lukas J Glos
- The School of Public Policy, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Baltimore, USA
| | - Evan Sanna
- Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department, Largo, USA
| | - Brian Frankel
- Prince George's County Fire and EMS Department, Largo, USA
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Fishe JN, Hendry P, Brailsford J, Salloum RG, Vogel B, Finlay E, Palmer S, Datta S, Hendeles L, Blake K. Early administration of steroids in the ambulance setting: Protocol for a type I hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial with a stepped wedge design. Contemp Clin Trials 2020; 97:106141. [PMID: 32931918 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric asthma exacerbations are a frequent reason for emergency care. Early administration of oral systemic corticosteroids (OCS) in the emergency department (ED) decreases hospitalization rates and ED length-of-stay (LOS). However, it is unknown whether even earlier OCS administration by emergency medical services (EMS) in the prehospital setting further improves outcomes. PURPOSE To describe the background and methods of a type 1 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of EMS-administered OCS for pediatric asthma patients incorporating a stepped wedge design and the RE-AIM framework. METHODS The study employs a non-randomized stepped wedge design where multiple EMS agencies adopt OCS as a treatment for pediatric asthma exacerbations at varying times. This design accommodates ethical considerations of studying pediatric subjects in the prehospital setting where informed consent is not feasible. We will compare hospitalization rates, ED LOS, and short-term healthcare costs between pediatric asthma patients who do and do not receive OCS from EMS. Using geographic information systems (GIS), we will measure how differences in outcomes scale with increasing EMS transport time. We will use the RE-AIM framework to guide a mixed methods analysis of barriers and enablers to EMS administration of OCS for pediatric asthma patients, including quantitative measures of adoption and uptake and qualitative EMS provider focus group data. CONCLUSION This trial will determine if earlier EMS administration of OCS to pediatric asthma patients decreases hospitalizations, ED LOS, and short-term healthcare costs, and if those outcomes scale with longer EMS transport times. We will identify barriers and enablers to implementing EMS-administered OCS for pediatric asthma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer N Fishe
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Research, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville. 655 W. 8(th) St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States of America; Center for Data Solutions, University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, 655 W. 11(th) St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States of America.
| | - Phyllis Hendry
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Research, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville. 655 W. 8(th) St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States of America.
| | - Jennifer Brailsford
- Center for Data Solutions, University of Florida College of Medicine - Jacksonville, 655 W. 11(th) St., Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States of America.
| | - Ramzi G Salloum
- Department of Health Outcomes and Bioinformatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America.
| | - Bruce Vogel
- Department of Health Outcomes and Bioinformatics, University of Florida College of Medicine, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America.
| | - Erik Finlay
- GeoPlan Center, University of Florida College of Design, Construction, and Planning. 1480 Inner Rd, Gainesivlle, FL 32601, United States of America.
| | - Sam Palmer
- GeoPlan Center, University of Florida College of Design, Construction, and Planning. 1480 Inner Rd, Gainesivlle, FL 32601, United States of America.
| | - Susmita Datta
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida. 2004 Mowry Road, 5(th) Floor CTRB, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America.
| | - Leslie Hendeles
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Pulmonary Division, University of Florida College of Medicine, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Ste HD-506, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Blake
- Nemours Center for Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research, 807 Children's Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States of America.
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Ni T, Chen M, Zhou W, Zhao J, Jia D. Difference of achievements between physicians from public hospitals and emergency medical center in prehospital emergency. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e13070. [PMID: 30383688 PMCID: PMC6221651 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000013070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The benefit gained by replacing physicians in the prehospital service is still controversial. The present study compared the difference of achievements of pre-hospital emergency between the physicians from public hospitals and those from the Emergency Medical Center.We included prehospital emergency patients who were sent to the hospital by ambulance after emergency calls from February 1 to May 31, 2016, in Shanghai (24,250,000 inhabitants). Cohort characteristics and diagnoses were described, and the data were analyzed using the Shanghai Emergency Medical Center's database software. We determined whether the physicians from public hospitals were associated with greater success rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and examined the diseases category and the number of patients with cardiac arrest in prehospital emergency patients.During February 1, 2016, to May 31, 2016, the total turnout of ambulances in the urban area of Shanghai was 107,341 times, among which, first aid was 55,053 times. The number of patients with cardiac arrest was 3012, the 3 principal causes for cardiac arrest were Unknown diagnosis (45.19%), Cardiovascular disease (28.02%) and Respiratory diseases (11.09%), and the successful rate of CPR was 1.56%. The number of critically ill patients, encountered by the physicians from public hospitals, was 10.33% as compared to those from the Emergency Medical Center, which was 11.77% (P < .001). Although the success rate of CPR of the physicians from public hospitals was lower than that of the physicians from the Emergency Medical Center (1.22-1.58%), it did not achieve statistical significance (P > .05).Transferring the physicians from public hospitals to work in Emergency Medical Center showed no improvement in the success rates of resuscitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtian Ni
- Department of Emergency, Rui Jin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Emergency, Rui Jin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Weijun Zhou
- Department of Emergency, Rui Jin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University
| | - Jiong Zhao
- Shanghai Medical Emergency Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Jia
- Shanghai Medical Emergency Center, Shanghai, China
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von Vopelius-Feldt J, Powell J, Morris R, Benger J. Prehospital critical care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: An observational study examining survival and a stakeholder-focused cost analysis. BMC Emerg Med 2016; 16:47. [PMID: 27927189 PMCID: PMC5142376 DOI: 10.1186/s12873-016-0109-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remain low, despite remarkable efforts to improve care. A number of ambulance services in the United Kingdom (UK) have developed prehospital critical care teams (CCTs) which attend critically ill patients, including OHCA. However, current scientific evidence describing CCTs attending OHCA is sparse and research to date has not demonstrated clear benefits from this model of care. Methods This prospective, observational study will describe the effect of CCTs on survival from OHCA, when compared to advanced-life-support (ALS), the current standard of prehospital care in the UK. In addition, we will describe the association between individual critical care interventions and survival, and also the costs of CCTs for OHCA. To examine the effect of CCTs on survival from OHCA, we will use routine Utstein variables data already collected in a number of UK ambulance trusts. We will use propensity score matching to adjust for imbalances between the CCT and ALS groups. The primary outcome will be survival to hospital discharge, with the secondary outcome of survival to hospital admission. We will record the critical care interventions delivered during CCT attendance at OHCA. We will describe frequencies and aim to use multiple logistic regression to examine possible associations with survival. Finally, we will undertake a stakeholder-focused cost analysis of CCTs for OHCA. This will utilise a previously published Emergency Medical Services (EMS) cost analysis toolkit and will take into account the costs incurred from use of a helicopter and the proportion of these costs currently covered by charities in the UK. Discussion Prehospital critical care for OHCA is not universally available in many EMS. In the UK, it is variable and largely funded through public donations to charities. If this study demonstrates benefit from CCTs at an acceptable cost to the public or EMS commissioners, it will provide a rationale to increase funding and service provision. If no clinical benefit is found, the public and charities providing these services can consider concentrating their efforts on other areas of prehospital care. Trial registration ISRCTN registry ID ISRCTN18375201.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes von Vopelius-Feldt
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, BS16 1DD, UK. .,Academic Department of Emergency Care, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Upper Maudlin Way, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK.
| | - Jane Powell
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, BS16 1DD, UK
| | - Richard Morris
- School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK
| | - Jonathan Benger
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Glenside Campus, Blackberry Hill, Bristol, BS16 1DD, UK.,Academic Department of Emergency Care, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Upper Maudlin Way, Bristol, BS2 8HW, UK
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Mikkelsen S, Krüger AJ, Zwisler ST, Brøchner AC. Outcome following physician supervised prehospital resuscitation: a retrospective study. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e006167. [PMID: 25567065 PMCID: PMC4289732 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prehospital care provided by specially trained, physician-based emergency services (P-EMS) is an integrated part of the emergency medical systems in many developed countries. To what extent P-EMS increases survival and favourable outcomes is still unclear. The aim of the study was thus to investigate ambulance runs initially assigned 'life-saving missions' with emphasis on long-term outcome in patients treated by the Mobile Emergency Care Unit (MECU) in Odense, Denmark METHODS All MECU runs are registered in a database by the attending physician, stating, among other parameters, the treatment given, outcome of the treatment and the patient's diagnosis. Over a period of 80 months from May 1 2006 to December 31 2012, all missions in which the outcome of the treatment was registered as 'life saving' were scrutinised. Initial outcome, level of competence of the caretaker and diagnosis of each patient were manually established in each case in a combined audit of the prehospital database, the discharge summary of the MECU and the medical records from the hospital. Outcome parameters were final outcome, the aetiology of the life-threatening condition and the level of competences necessary to treat the patient. RESULTS Of 25 647 patients treated by the MECU, 701 (2.7%) received prehospital 'life saving treatment'. In 596 (2.3%) patients this treatment exceeded the competences of the attending emergency medical technician or paramedic. Of these patients, 225 (0.9%) were ultimately discharged to their own home. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates that anaesthesiologist administrated prehospital therapy increases the level of treatment modalities leading to an increased survival in relation to a prehospital system consisting of emergency medical technicians and paramedics alone and thus supports the concept of applying specialists in anaesthesiology in the prehospital setting especially when treating patients with cardiac arrest, patients in need of respiratory support and trauma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Søren Mikkelsen
- Mobile Emergency Care Unit, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Andreas J Krüger
- Department of Anaesthesia and Emergency Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stine T Zwisler
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Anne C Brøchner
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
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Jaldell H, Lebnak P, Amornpetchsathaporn A. Time is money, but how much? The monetary value of response time for Thai ambulance emergency services. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2014; 17:555-560. [PMID: 25128048 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2014.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 04/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To calculate the monetary value of the time factor per minute and per year for emergency services. METHODS The monetary values for ambulance emergency services were calculated for two different time factors, response time, which is the time from when a call is received by the emergency medical service call-taking center until the response team arrives at the emergency scene, and operational time, which includes the time to the hospital. The study was performed in two steps. First, marginal effects of reduced fatalities and injuries for a 1-minute change in the time factors were calculated. Second, the marginal effects and the monetary values were put together to find a value per minute. RESULTS The values were found to be 5.5 million Thai bath/min for fatality and 326,000 baht/min for severe injury. The total monetary value for a 1-minute improvement for each dispatch, summarized over 1 year, was 1.6 billion Thai baht using response time. CONCLUSIONS The calculated values could be used in a cost-benefit analysis of an investment reducing the response time. The results from similar studies could for example be compared to the cost of moving an ambulance station or investing in a new alarm system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Jaldell
- Department of Economics, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden.
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O'Meara P. Community paramedics: a scoping review of their emergence and potential impact. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014. [DOI: 10.12968/ippr.2014.4.1.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Peter O'Meara
- professor of rural and regional paramedicine and head of paramedicine, public and community health, La Trobe Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia
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Molyneux EM. Paediatric emergency care in resource-constrained health services is usually neglected: time for change. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 30:165-76. [DOI: 10.1179/146532810x12703902516482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
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Sund B, Svensson L, Rosenqvist M, Hollenberg J. Favourable cost-benefit in an early defibrillation programme using dual dispatch of ambulance and fire services in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2012; 13:811-8. [PMID: 21739334 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-011-0338-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2010] [Accepted: 06/28/2011] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
AIMS Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is fatal without treatment, and time to defibrillation is an extremely important factor in relation to survival. We performed a cost-benefit analysis of dual dispatch defibrillation by ambulance and fire services in the County of Stockholm, Sweden. METHODS AND RESULTS A cost-benefit analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of dual dispatch defibrillation. The increased survival rates were estimated from a real-world implemented intervention, and the monetary value of a life (<euro> 2.2 million) was applied to this benefit by using results from a recent stated-preference study. The estimated costs include defibrillators (including expendables/maintenance), training, hospitalisation/health care, fire service call-outs, overhead resources and the dispatch centre. The estimated number of additional saved lives was 16 per year, yielding a benefit-cost ratio of 36. The cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) was estimated to be <euro> 13,000, and the cost per saved life was <euro> 60,000. CONCLUSIONS The intervention of dual dispatch defibrillation by ambulance and fire services in the County of Stockholm had positive economic effects. For the cost-benefit analysis, the return on investment was high and the cost-effectiveness showed levels below the threshold value for economic efficiency used in Sweden. The cost-utility analysis categorises the cost per QALY as medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Björn Sund
- Swedish Business School, Örebro University, 702 82, Örebro, Sweden.
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The cost-effectiveness of physician staffed Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) transport to a major trauma centre in NSW, Australia. Injury 2012; 43:1843-9. [PMID: 22898559 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2012.07.184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Revised: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 07/19/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) are highly resource-intensive facilities that are well established as part of trauma systems in many high-income countries. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a physician-staffed HEMS intervention in combination with treatment at a major trauma centre versus ground ambulance or indirect transport (via a referral hospital) in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. METHODS Cost and effectiveness estimates were derived from a cohort of trauma patients arriving at St George Hospital in NSW, Australia during an 11-year period. Adjusted estimates of in-hospital mortality were derived using logistic regression and adjusted hospital costs were estimated through a general linear model incorporating a gamma distribution and log link. These estimates along with other assumptions were incorporated into a Markov model with an annual cycle length to estimate a cost per life saved and a cost per life-year saved at one year and over a patient's lifetime respectively in three patient groups (all patients; patients with serious injury [Injury Severity Score>12]; patients with traumatic brain injury [TBI]). RESULTS Results showed HEMS to be more costly but more effective at reducing in-hospital mortality leading to a cost per life saved of $1,566,379, $533,781 and $519,787 in all patients, patients with serious injury and patients with TBI respectively. When modelled over a patient's lifetime, the improved mortality associated with HEMS led to a cost per life year saved of $96,524, $50,035 and $49,159 in the three patient groups respectively. Sensitivity analyses revealed a higher probability of HEMS being cost-effective in patients with serious injury and TBI. CONCLUSION Our investigation confirms a HEMS intervention is associated with improved mortality in trauma patients, especially in patients with serious injury and TBI. The improved benefit of HEMS in patients with serious injury and TBI leads to improved estimated cost-effectiveness.
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Lerner EB, Garrison HG, Nichol G, Maio RF, Lookman HA, Sheahan WD, Franz TR, Austad JD, Ginster AM, Spaite DW. An economic toolkit for identifying the cost of emergency medical services (EMS) systems: detailed methodology of the EMS Cost Analysis Project (EMSCAP). Acad Emerg Med 2012; 19:210-6. [PMID: 22288824 DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2011.01277.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Calculating the cost of an emergency medical services (EMS) system using a standardized method is important for determining the value of EMS. This article describes the development of a methodology for calculating the cost of an EMS system to its community. This includes a tool for calculating the cost of EMS (the "cost workbook") and detailed directions for determining cost (the "cost guide"). The 12-step process that was developed is consistent with current theories of health economics, applicable to prehospital care, flexible enough to be used in varying sizes and types of EMS systems, and comprehensive enough to provide meaningful conclusions. It was developed by an expert panel (the EMS Cost Analysis Project [EMSCAP] investigator team) in an iterative process that included pilot testing the process in three diverse communities. The iterative process allowed ongoing modification of the toolkit during the development phase, based upon direct, practical, ongoing interaction with the EMS systems that were using the toolkit. The resulting methodology estimates EMS system costs within a user-defined community, allowing either the number of patients treated or the estimated number of lives saved by EMS to be assessed in light of the cost of those efforts. Much controversy exists about the cost of EMS and whether the resources spent for this purpose are justified. However, the existence of a validated toolkit that provides a standardized process will allow meaningful assessments and comparisons to be made and will supply objective information to inform EMS and community officials who are tasked with determining the utilization of scarce societal resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Brooke Lerner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Kahn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California-Irvine, Orange, USA
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Dias ARN, Abib SDCV, Poli-de-Figueiredo LF, Perfeito JAJ. Entrapped victims in motor vehicle collisions: characteristics and prehospital care in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2011; 66:21-5. [PMID: 21437431 PMCID: PMC3044585 DOI: 10.1590/s1807-59322011000100005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2010] [Accepted: 10/01/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the severity of trauma in entrapped victims and to identify risk factors for mortality and morbidity. INTRODUCTION Triage and rapid assessment of trauma severity is essential to provide the needed resources during prehospital and hospital phases and for outcome prediction. It is expected that entrapped victims will have greater severity of trauma and mortality than non-entrapped subjects. METHODS A transverse, case-control, retrospective study of 1203 victims of motor vehicle collisions treated during 1 year by the prehospital service in São Paulo, Brazil was carried out. All patients were drivers, comprising 401 entrapped victims (33.3%) and 802 non-entrapped consecutive controls (66.7%). Sex, age, mortality rates, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), corporal segments, timing of the prehospital care and resource use were compared between the groups. The results were analysed by χ², Zres, analysis of variance and Bonferroni tests. RESULTS Entrapped victims were predominantly men (84.8%), aged 32 ± 13.1 years, with immediate mortality of 10.2% and overall mortality of 11.7%. They had a probability of death at the scene 8.2 times greater than that of non-entrapped victims. The main cause of death was hemorrhage for entrapped victims (45.2%) and trauma for non-entrapped victims. Of the entrapped victims who survived, 18.7% had a severe GCS (OR = 10.62), 12% a severe RTS (OR = 9.78) and 23.7% were in shock (OR = 3.38). Entrapped victims were more commonly transported to advanced life support units and to tertiary hospitals. CONCLUSION Entrapped victims had greater trauma severity, more blood loss and a greater mortality than respective, non-entrapped controls.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The cost of trauma center care is high, raising questions about the value of a regionalized approach to trauma care. To address these concerns, we estimate 1-year and lifetime treatment costs and measure the cost-effectiveness of treatment at a Level I trauma center (TC) compared with a nontrauma center hospital (NTC). METHODS Estimates of cost-effectiveness were derived using data on 5,043 major trauma patients enrolled in the National Study on Costs and Outcomes of Trauma, a prospective cohort study of severely injured adult patients cared for in 69 hospitals in 14 states. Data on costs were derived from multiple sources including claims data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, UB92 hospital bills, and patient interviews. Cost-effectiveness was estimated as the ratio of the difference in costs (for treatment at a TC vs. NTC) divided by the difference in life years gained (and lives saved). We also measured cost-effectiveness per quality-adjusted life year gained where quality of life was measured using the SF-6D. We used inverse probability of treatment weighting to adjust for observable differences between patients treated at TCs and NTCs. RESULTS The added cost for treatment at a TC versus NTC was $36,319 per life-year gained ($790,931 per life saved) and $36,961 per quality-adjusted life years gained. Cost-effectiveness was more favorable for patients with injuries of higher versus lower severity and for younger versus older patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence that regionalization of trauma care is not only effective but also it is cost-effective.
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Taylor CB, Stevenson M, Jan S, Middleton PM, Fitzharris M, Myburgh JA. A systematic review of the costs and benefits of helicopter emergency medical services. Injury 2010; 41:10-20. [PMID: 19853251 DOI: 10.1016/j.injury.2009.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2009] [Revised: 09/21/2009] [Accepted: 09/21/2009] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are popular in first world health systems despite inconsistent evidence in the scientific literature to support their use. The aim of the current study was to perform a systematic review of economic evaluations of HEMS, in order to determine the economic cost of HEMS and the associated patient-centered benefits. METHOD A systematic review was performed of studies that provided a cost estimate of HEMS. The inclusion criteria consisted of English language articles that estimated both the costs and outcomes of a HEMS and fulfilled pre-specified criteria in relation to a cost analysis, cost-minimisation, cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit evaluation. Identified studies were synthesised according to the patient diagnosis (trauma, non-trauma or non-specific) and the type of HEMS transport under review (primary scene retrieval or secondary inter-facility transport). All costs were converted to US dollars and indexed for inflation. RESULTS Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Among all studies the annual cost of HEMS ranged from $115,777 to $5,571,578. Five studies showed HEMS to be a more expensive transport alternative without an associated benefit while eight studies provided cost-effectiveness ratios of $3292 and $2227 per life year saved for trauma, $3258 per life saved and $7138 and $12,022 per quality adjusted life year for non-trauma and $30,365 and $91,478 per beneficial mission for non-specific patient populations. One study also evaluated the cost of HEMS to societal benefit, producing a ratio of 1:6. INTERPRETATION The cost and effectiveness of HEMS varied considerably between studies. Despite generally being more expensive than ground transport, a number of studies found HEMS to be cost-effective. However, given the variation in the intervention design, context and study methods between studies it was not possible to assess the cost-effectiveness of HEMS in general. Given the variation inherent in the health systems in which HEMS operate, synthesis and extrapolation of study findings across differing health environments is difficult. To address economic and clinical evidence in relation to HEMS, future research that is tailored to account for local system factors is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colman B Taylor
- The George Institute for International Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Spaite DW. Lay Responder Defibrillation, Pancake Breakfasts, and Survival From Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. Ann Emerg Med 2009; 54:236-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2009.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2009] [Revised: 02/25/2009] [Accepted: 03/04/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To discuss the clinical effectiveness, public health impact and cost-effectiveness of public access defibrillation. RECENT FINDINGS High rates of survival from prehospital ventricular fibrillation have been documented in patients treated by first responders using automated external defibrillators. The recent Public Access Defibrillation trial demonstrated a doubling of cardiac arrest survival in community units where volunteers trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation were additionally equipped with automated external defibrillators. The cost-effectiveness analysis of the Public Access Defibrillation trial has not yet been published, and previous analyses have lacked full data on cost, outcome, or both. Data from many sources indicate that automated external defibrillator placement at sites with an expected rate of one cardiac arrest per defibrillator per 5 years, as recommended by the American Heart Association, addresses only around 1-2% of prehospital arrests, and will have a minimal impact on population survival. SUMMARY While highly targeted provision of automated external defibrillators in areas of greatest risk, such as casinos and airports, may be cost-effective, it will have little impact at a population level. Provision of more widespread public access defibrillation to sites with lower incidence of cardiac arrest is unlikely to be cost-effective, and may represent poorer value for money than alternative healthcare interventions in coronary artery disease.
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Lerner EB, Nichol G, Spaite DW, Garrison HG, Maio RF. A Comprehensive Framework for Determining the Cost of an Emergency Medical Services System. Ann Emerg Med 2007; 49:304-13. [PMID: 17113682 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2006] [Revised: 09/21/2006] [Accepted: 09/22/2006] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To determine the cost of an emergency medical services (EMS) system, researchers, policymakers, and EMS providers need a framework with which to identify the components of the system that must be included in any cost calculations. Such a framework will allow for cost comparisons across studies, communities, and interventions. The objective of this article is to present an EMS cost framework. This framework was developed by a consensus panel after analysis of existing peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed resources, as well as independent expert input. The components of the framework include administrative overhead, bystander response, communications, equipment, human resources, information systems, medical oversight, physical plant, training, and vehicles. There is no hierarchical rank to these components; they are all necessary. Within each component, there are subcomponents that must be considered. This framework can be used to standardize the calculation of EMS system costs to a community. Standardizing the calculation of EMS cost will allow for comparisons of costs between studies, communities, and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Brooke Lerner
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
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Current World Literature. Curr Opin Cardiol 2007; 22:49-53. [PMID: 17143045 DOI: 10.1097/hco.0b013e3280126b20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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