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Fisher JD, Freeman K, Clarke A, Spurgeon P, Smyth M, Perkins GD, Sujan MA, Cooke MW. Patient safety in ambulance services: a scoping review. HEALTH SERVICES AND DELIVERY RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.3310/hsdr03210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe role of ambulance services has changed dramatically over the last few decades with the introduction of paramedics able to provide life-saving interventions, thanks to sophisticated equipment and treatments available. The number of 999 calls continues to increase, with adverse events theoretically possible with each one. Most patient safety research is based on hospital data, but little is known concerning patient safety when using ambulance services, when things can be very different. There is an urgent need to characterise the evidence base for patient safety in NHS ambulance services.ObjectiveTo identify and map available evidence relating to patient safety when using ambulance services.DesignMixed-methods design including systematic review and review of ambulance service documentation, with areas for future research prioritised using a Delphi process.Setting and participantsAmbulance services, their staff and service users in UK.Data sourcesA wide range of data sources were explored. Multiple databases, reference lists from key papers and citations, Google and the NHS Confederation website were searched, and experts contacted to ensure that new data were included in the review. The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Science Direct, Emerald, Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS), PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Health Management Information Consortium (HMIC), NHS Evidence, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED),Health Technology Assessment, the FADE library, Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH), OpenDOAR (Directory of Open Access Repositories) and Open System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (OpenSIGLE) and Zetoc (The British Library's Electronic Table of Contents) were searched from 1 January 1980 to 12 October 2011. Publicly available documents and issues identified by National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) and coroners’ reports were considered. Opinions and perceptions of senior managers, ambulance staff and service users were solicited.Review methodsData were extracted from annual reports using two-stage thematic analysis, data from quality accounts were collated with safety priorities tabulated and considered using thematic analysis, NPSA incident report data were collated and displayed comparatively using descriptive statistics, claims reported to NHSLA were analysed to identify number and cost of claims from mistakes and/or poor service, and summaries of coroners’ reports were assessed using thematic analysis to identify underlying safety issues. The depth of analysis is limited by the remit of a scoping exercise and availability of data.ResultsWe identified studies exploring different aspects of safety, which were of variable quality and with little evidence to support activities currently undertaken by ambulance services. Adequately powered studies are required to address issues of patient safety in this service, and it appeared that national priorities were what determined safety activities, rather than patient need. There was inconsistency of information on attitudes and approaches to patient safety, exacerbated by a lack of common terminology.ConclusionPatient safety needs to become a more prominent consideration for ambulance services, rather than operational pressures, including targets and driving the service. Development of new models of working must include adequate training and monitoring of clinical risks. Providers and commissioners need a full understanding of the safety implications of introducing new models of care, particularly to a mobile workforce often isolated from colleagues, which requires a body of supportive evidence and an inherent critical evaluation culture. It is difficult to extrapolate findings of clinical studies undertaken in secondary care to ambulance service practice and current national guidelines often rely on consensus opinion regarding applicability to the pre-hospital environment. Areas requiring further work include the safety surrounding discharging patients, patient accidents, equipment and treatment, delays in transfer/admission to hospital, and treatment and diagnosis, with a clear need for increased reliability and training for improving handover to hospital.FundingThe National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne D Fisher
- Department of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
| | - Karoline Freeman
- Department of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
| | - Aileen Clarke
- Department of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
| | - Peter Spurgeon
- Department of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
| | - Mike Smyth
- West Midlands Ambulance Service, Millennium Point, Waterfront Business Park, Brierley Hill, West Midlands, UK
| | - Gavin D Perkins
- Department of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
| | | | - Matthew W Cooke
- Department of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, Coventry, UK
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Krochmal P, Moore J, Shea K, Kiessling M, Blaustein D, Schriver J. Paramedic field instructors: an approach to training the newest paramedics while maintaining the interest of the most successful senior paramedics. Prehosp Disaster Med 1995; 10:106-8; discussion 108-9. [PMID: 10155412 DOI: 10.1017/s1049023x00041819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
A unique approach to providing orientation and supervised field experience for newly graduated paramedics and for the continuing education and recognition of experienced, skilled, operational paramedics is described. A group of 30 paramedic field instructors (PFI) was selected following application, development of criteria for selection, and interviews. This program had a positive effect in both realms during its first year of operation in the emergency medical services system in which it was implemented.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Krochmal
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut 06437, USA
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Abstract
To determine the amount of skill deterioration in paramedics, 40 graduates from three consecutive classes of Chicago City-Wide Paramedic training programs were tested. Examinations consisted of the practical aspects of airway management, spinal immobilization, and intravenous fluid therapy identical to their school final examination. As a group, study scores were significantly lower than graduation scores. However, in only two areas were there individuals performing below acceptable levels. These were in spinal immobilization with extrication and extremity immobilization. The continuing education and recertification process need to develop reliable methods to identify and then correct deficiencies in performance levels of system participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Zautcke
- University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago
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Cwinn AA, Pons PT, Moore EE, Marx JA, Honigman B, Dinerman N. Prehospital advanced trauma life support for critical blunt trauma victims. Ann Emerg Med 1987; 16:399-403. [PMID: 3826807 DOI: 10.1016/s0196-0644(87)80358-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The ability of paramedics to deliver advanced trauma life support (ATLS) in an expedient fashion for victims of trauma has been strongly challenged. In this study, the records of 114 consecutive victims of blunt trauma who underwent laparotomy or thoracotomy were reviewed. Prehospital care was rendered by paramedics operating under strict protocols. The mean response time (minutes +/- SEM) to the scene was 5.6 +/- 0.27. On-scene time was 13.9 +/- 0.62. The time to return to the hospital was 8.0 +/- 0.4. On-scene time included assessing hazards at the scene, patient extrication, spine immobilization (n = 98), application of oxygen (n = 94), measurement of vital signs (n = 114), splinting of 59 limbs, and the following ATLS procedures: endotracheal intubation (n = 31), IV access (n = 106), ECG monitoring (n = 69), procurement of blood for tests including type and cross (n = 58), and application of a pneumatic antishock garment (PASG) (n = 31). On-scene times were analyzed according to the number of ATLS procedures performed: insertion of one IV line (n = 46), 14.8 +/- 1.03 minutes; two IV lines (n = 28), 13.4 +/- 0.92; one IV line plus intubation (n = 7), 14.0 +/- 2.94; two IV lines plus intubation (n = 9), 17.0 +/- 2.38; and two IV lines plus intubation plus PASG (n = 13), 12.4 +/- 1.36. Of the 161 IV attempts, 94% were completed successfully. Of 36 attempts at endotracheal intubation, 89% were successful.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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