Comparison of Emergency Medical Services Duration amid Routine Service for COVID-19 Patients

Korakot Apiratwarakul; Takaaki Suzuki; Ismet Celebi; Kamonwon Ienghong; Thanat Tangpaisarn; Somsak Tiamkao; Vajarabhongsa Bhudhisawasdi

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2021.5953

Authors

Korakot Apiratwarakul Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1984-0865
Takaaki Suzuki Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, University of Tsukuba Hospital, Tsukuba, Japan
Ismet Celebi Department of Paramedic, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
Kamonwon Ienghong Department of Emergency Medicine
Thanat Tangpaisarn Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Somsak Tiamkao Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
Vajarabhongsa Bhudhisawasdi Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.5953

Keywords:

Emergency medical services, Ambulances, Response time, COVID-19

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Concerning the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, the number of patients has been increasing. Emergency medical services (EMS) operating duration differs from normal services due to equipment preparation, number of personnel, and on-board ambulance procedures. Notably, there have been no studies examining EMS duration regarding COVID-19 patients.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the EMS time for COVID-19 patients and routine services.

METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Information gathering was carried out by employing the Srinagarind Hospital EMS database throughout January 1, 2020, and February 10, 2021.

RESULTS: A total of 2420 EMS operations were examined, of which five tested positive for COVID-19 (0.21%). The mean age of the COVID-19 patients was 35.6 ± 7.2 years, with the activation interval for COVID-19 and routine services at 64.20 ± 10.14 and 1.42 ± 0.42 min, respectively (p < 0.001). The on-scene time for COVID-19 and routine services was 3.20 ± 0.44 and 5.20 ± 2.20 min, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: EMS operating time amid the activation interval for COVID-19 patients was significantly longer than in the normal group. However, on-scene time for COVID-19 patients was less time than in normal operations.

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