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Ventura CAI, Denton EE, David JA, Schoenfelder BJ, Mela L, Lumia RP, Rudi RB, Haldar B. Emergency Medical Services Prehospital Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in the US: A Brief Literature Review. OPEN ACCESS EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2022; 14:249-272. [PMID: 35669176 PMCID: PMC9165654 DOI: 10.2147/oaem.s366006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze prehospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the US through a brief systematic review of available literature in context with international prehospital counterparts. An exploration of the NCBI repository was performed using a search string of relevant keywords which returned n=5128 results; articles that met the inclusion criteria (n=77) were reviewed and analyzed in accordance with PRISMA and PROSPERO recommendations. Methodical quality was assessed using critical appraisal tools, and the Egger’s test was used for risk of bias reduction upon linear regression analysis of a funnel plot. Sources of heterogeneity as defined by P < 0.10 or I^2 > 50% were interrogated. Findings were considered within ten domains: structural/systemic; clinical outcomes; clinical assessment; treatment; special populations; dispatch/activation; education; mental health; perspectives/experiences; and transport. Findings suggest, EMS clinicians have likely made significant and unmeasured contributions to care during the pandemic via nontraditional roles, ie, COVID-19 testing and vaccine deployment. EMS plays a critical role in counteracting the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to the worsening opioid epidemic, both of which disproportionately impact patients of color. As such, being uniquely influential on clinical outcomes, these providers may benefit from standardized education on care and access disparities such as racial identity. Access to distance learning continuing education opportunities may increase rates of provider recertification. Additionally, there is a high prevalence of vaccine hesitancy among surveyed nationally registered EMS providers. Continued rigorous investigation on the impact of COVID-19 on EMS systems and personnel is warranted to ensure informed preparation for future pandemic and infectious disease responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Angelo I Ventura
- Department of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine Boston, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society (Incoming), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, USA
- EMS Pandemic Response Research Laboratory Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
- Correspondence: Christian Angelo I Ventura, Tel +1 (732) 372-2141, Email ;
| | - Edward E Denton
- EMS Pandemic Response Research Laboratory Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, Little Rock, AR, USA
- Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Little Rock, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Jessica Anastacia David
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University New Brunswick, Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | | - Lillian Mela
- Department of Nursing, Simmons University Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca P Lumia
- Department of Biology, Northeastern University Boston, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rachel B Rudi
- EMS Pandemic Response Research Laboratory Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Barnita Haldar
- EMS Pandemic Response Research Laboratory Lawrenceville, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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