Smartphone application alerts for early trauma team activation: Millennial technology in healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Data access through smartphone applications (apps) has reframed procedure and policy in healthcare, but its impact in trauma remains unclear. Citizen is a free app that provides real-time alerts curated from 911 dispatch data. Our primary objective was to determine whether app alerts occurred earlier than recorded times for trauma team activation and emergency department arrival. METHODS: Trauma registry entries were extracted from a level one urban trauma center from January 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 and compared with app metadata from the center catchment area. We matched entries to metadata according to description, date, time, and location then compared metadata timestamps to trauma team activation and emergency department arrival times. We computed percentage of time the app reported traumatic events earlier than trauma team activation or emergency department arrival along with exact binomial 95% confidence interval; median differences between times were presented along with interquartile ranges. RESULTS: Of 3,684 trauma registry entries, 209 (5.7%) matched app metadata. App alerts were earlier for 96.1% and 96.2% of trauma team activation and emergency department arrival times, respectively, with events reported median 36 (24-53, IQR) minutes earlier than trauma team activation and 32 (25-42, IQR) minutes earlier than emergency department arrival. Registry entries for younger males, motor vehicle-related injuries and penetrating traumas were more likely to match alerts (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Apps like Citizen may provide earlier notification of traumatic events and therefore earlier mobilization of trauma service resources. Earlier notification may translate into improved patient outcomes. Additional studies into the benefit of apps for trauma care are warranted.

Information Overload: A Method to Share Updates among Frontline Staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Since COVID-19 was classified as a pandemic, the stream of important information from multiple sources is constant and always changing. As the pandemic evolves, the need to report relevant information to frontline providers remains crucial. A 1-page centralized document termed a "quicksheet" was developed to include guidelines, policies, and practical information and to serve as a reference tool for our clinicians. It was updated and distributed frequently, up to once daily. It was initially embraced as an important resource for resident physicians and then quickly adopted by the entire department as a necessary reference and communication tool during the ongoing crisis. The quicksheet has been a beneficial tool to distill and organize the most important and relevant information for frontline staff, and we hope that it can serve as a template for departments and health care workers in other hospital systems to adopt.

Amateur radio communications in a disaster preparedness simulation When all else fails . . . amateur radio.

During natural disasters, communications can be disrupted, which negatively impacts response time of first responders thus diminishing the level of care provided to disaster victims. In the fall of 2014, as part of a larger community-based participatory research study, the Tarleton Area Amateur Radio Club (TAARC) joined the Department of Nursing, Tarleton State University, and provided amateur radio communications during a disaster preparedness simulation. The simulation was conducted to determine the ability of the university to provide rapid response and render quality, acute healthcare to its neighbors during a natural disaster. The primary goals of the TAARC were to assess the ability to quickly establish radio communications, accurately relay messages, and establish rapport and affiliation between each facility commander and the amateur radio operators. It was determined that communication was key to provide quality care, and the inclusion of amateur radio operators in the simulation helped ensure rapid response times and rapid transport of critical victims.

Effect of introduction of a standardized protocol in dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

BACKGROUND: The two most commonly used dispatch tools are medical priority dispatch (MPD) and criteria based dispatch (CBD), but there are countries still using non-standardized emergency call processing. We compared selected characteristics of DA-CPR before and after implementation of a standardized protocol in a non-MPD and non-CBD system. METHODS: Observational study of DA-CPR recordings during 4-month periods before (PER1) and after (PER2) the standardized protocol had been implemented. Selected performance characteristics included times to event verification, identification of cardiac arrest, DA-CPR instructions, and first chest compression, which were compared between PER1 and PER2. The secondary goal was to compare survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 152 call recordings with DA-CPR were evaluated in PER1 and 174 in PER2. Median times to cardiac arrest recognition were 46s in PER1 and 37s in PER2 (p=0.002), to first compression 2min 35s in PER1 and 2min 25s in PER2 (p=0.549). Admission to hospital with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was achieved in 39 patients (31.9%) in PER1 and 57 (45.6%) in PER2 (p<0.05), discharge from hospital (CPC 1-2) in 9.0% and 14.4% patients in PER1 and PER2, respectively. If ventricular fibrillation was the initial rhythm, survival rate (CPC 1-2) was 32.3% in PER1 and 38.7% in PER2 (p=0.523). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a standardized DA-CPR protocol resulted in faster identification of cardiac arrest, response team dispatching and arrival at scene. These factors were associated with a trend to better survival.

Portable ultrasound in disaster triage: a focused review.

Ultrasound technology has become ubiquitous in modern medicine. Its applications span the assessment of life-threatening trauma or hemodynamic conditions, to elective procedures such as image-guided peripheral nerve blocks. Sonographers have utilized ultrasound techniques in the pre-hospital setting, emergency departments, operating rooms, intensive care units, outpatient clinics, as well as during mass casualty and disaster management. Currently available ultrasound devices are more affordable, portable, and feature user-friendly interfaces, making them well suited for use in the demanding situation of a mass casualty incident (MCI) or disaster triage. We have reviewed the existing literature regarding the application of sonology in MCI and disaster scenarios, focusing on the most promising and practical ultrasound-based paradigms applicable in these settings.

Full-scale regional exercises: closing the gaps in disaster preparedness.

BACKGROUND: Man-made (9/11) and natural (Hurricane Katrina) disasters have enlightened the medical community regarding the importance of disaster preparedness. In response to Joint Commission requirements, medical centers should have established protocols in place to respond to such events. We examined a full-scale regional exercise (FSRE) to identify gaps in logistics and operations during a simulated mass casualty incident. METHODS: A multiagency, multijurisdictional, multidisciplinary exercise (FSRE) included 16 area hospitals and one American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma center (TC). The scenario simulated a train derailment and chemical spill 20 miles from the TC using 281 moulaged volunteers. Third-party contracted evaluators assessed each hospital in five areas: communications, command structure, decontamination, staffing, and patient tracking. Further analysis examined logistic and operational deficiencies. RESULTS: None of the 16 hospitals were compliant in all five areas. Mean hospital compliance was 1.9 (± 0.9 SD) areas. One hospital, unable to participate because of an air conditioner outage, was deemed 0% compliant. The most common deficiency was communications (15 of 16 hospitals [94%]; State Medical Asset Resource Tracking Tool system deficiencies, lack of working knowledge of Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders radio system) followed by deficient decontamination in 12 (75%). Other deficiencies included inadequate staffing based on predetermined protocols in 10 hospitals (63%), suboptimal command structure in 9 (56%), and patient tracking deficiencies in 5 (31%). An additional 11 operational and 5 logistic failures were identified. The TC showed an appropriate command structure but was deficient in four of five categories, with understaffing and a decontamination leak into the emergency department, which required diversion of 70 patients. CONCLUSION: Communication remains a significant gap in the mass casualty scenario 10 years after 9/11. Our findings demonstrate that tabletop exercises are inadequate to expose operational and logistic gaps in disaster response. FSREs should be routinely performed to adequately prepare for catastrophic events.

The Fort Hood Massacre: Lessons learned from a high profile mass casualty.

BACKGROUND: On November 5, 2009, an army psychiatrist at Fort Hood in Killeen, TX, allegedly opened fire at the largest US military base in the world, killing 13 and wounding 32. METHODS: Data from debriefing sessions, news media, and area hospitals were reviewed. RESULTS: Ten patients were initially transferred to the regional Level I trauma center. The remainder of the shooting victims were triaged to two other local regional hospitals. National news networks broadcasted the Level I trauma center's referral phone line which resulted in more than 1,300 calls. The resulting difficulties in communication led to the transfer of two victims (one critical) to a regional hospital without a trauma designation. CONCLUSIONS: Triage at the scene was compromised by a lack of a secure environment, leading to undertriage of several patients. Overload of routine communication pathways compounded the problem, suggesting redundancy is crucial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level V.

Being prepared for the unprepared: a phenomenology field study of Swedish prehospital care.

INTRODUCTION: This paper presents a study of prehospital care with particular focus on how ambulance personnel prepare themselves for their everyday assignments. METHODS: The caring science field study took a phenomenological approach, where data were analyzed for meaning. Two specialist ambulance nurses, three registered nurses, and six paramedics participated. RESULTS: The previously known discrepancy between in-hospital care and prehospital care was further interpreted in this study. The pre-information from an emergency medical dispatch (EMD) center provides ambulance personnel with basic expectations as to what they will have to take care of. At the same time that they maintain their certainty and control, our major findings indicate that prehospital care in emergency medical service requires the personnel to be prepared for an open and flexible encounter with the patient; to be prepared for the unprepared, i.e., to be open and to avoid being governed by predetermined statements. DISCUSSION: Our findings suggest that the outcomes of good prehospital care affect patient security. The seemingly time-consuming dialogue with the patient facilitates understanding and decision-making regarding the patient's medical needs, and it is comforting to the patient. The ambulance personnel need to be well prepared for this task and fully understand that the situation might differ considerably from the information provided by the EMD centers. All objective information is of great value in this care context, but ultimately it is the patient who provides reliable information about her/his own situation.

Enhancing patient safety in the pediatric emergency department: teams, communication, and lessons from crew resource management.

The fast-paced and multifaceted nature of patient care in the emergency department makes our discipline especially prone to errors and adverse events. In recent years, strategies such as formal communication and medical team training have been proposed as potential means to enhance patient safety. In many ways, practice dynamics particular to the emergency department make this setting almost ideal for implementation of these strategies. This article reviews concepts of communication and team training in medicine, including those learned from the aviation industry (known as crew resource management). Recent literature pertaining to teams and communication in medicine is reviewed.

Redes de conversação e coordenação de ações de saúde: estudo em um serviço móvel regional de atenção às urgências / Networks for dialogue and coordination of health activities: a study on a regional mobile emergency care service

A coordenação de redes de serviços é um dos principais desafios dos sistemas de saúde e exige uma intrincada trama de interações entre os atores envolvidos na prestação de serviços. Neste trabalho assume-se um modelo que coloca as redes de conversações como componente central da coordenação e analisam-se as redes de conversações no Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência (SAMU) da Região Metropolitana II do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Em particular, busca-se analisar como as interações verbais influenciam neste processo. Utiliza-se a observação direta e a gravação de reuniões como técnicas de coleta de dados e a análise de conversação como estratégia metodológica de análise. Entre os resultados destaca-se a identificação de duas redes principais de conversações como mecanismo de coordenação de ações. Advoga-se a importância do conceito de coordenação dialógica como ferramenta para a análise e para a melhoria da coordenação em sistemas de serviços de saúde.

Coordination of health services networks is one of the main challenges for health systems and requires an intricate web of interactions between service providers. This study assumes a model that uses communications networks as a central component of coordination and analyzes such networks in the Mobile Emergency Care Service (SAMU) in Greater Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro State Area II, Brazil. The study specifically seeks to analyze how verbal interactions influence this process. The research used direct observation and taping of meetings with data collection and analysis of conversation as the methodological strategy. The findings feature the identification of two main conversation networks as the mechanism for coordinating actions. The article highlights the importance of the concept of dialogical coordination as a tool for the analysis and improvement of coordination in health services systems.

[The Department of Emergency in the Italian National Health Service: a critical analysis]. / Il Sistema di Emergenza-Urgenza nel Servizio Sanitario Nazionale: un'analisi delle criticità.

The Emergency Medical Service in Italy is based on operating exchanges, distributed on all the national territory. The operating exchange coordinates the help means sending in relation to the event severity. The telephone calls of request for help are sent to the operating exchange through a single telephone number (118). The helps (ambulances, helicopter) are sent later to the hospital more suitable help Center. Hospitals are inserted in an organizational net and differentiated for service level. All this to assure homogeneity of care and different care levels in the emergency situations. In the April 1996 the National Guide Lines, which provide the information on the organizational and functional emergency requirements, have been given off. Requirements have been furthermore identified for the Emergency Departments of first and second level. After ten years from the Emergency Department activation, the main critical states are represented by the heterogeneous organization on the national territory and medical and nursing staff's formation.

Emergency nursing experience in Malawi.

Malawi has a population of 13 million with the vast majority of its people living in the rural areas. Government health facilities are the main providers of health care services in the country with a few private facilities charging for their services. Emergency medical care in Malawi is offered in all health care delivery areas, however the quality offered and its accessibility is compromised especially in rural areas. Every health care professional receives a component of emergency training during their generic programme although there are very limited specialized emergency professionals. Working as a nurse in the emergency department in Malawi is a challenging experience due to these various difficulties.

Syndromic surveillance: hospital emergency department participation during the Kentucky Derby Festival.

INTRODUCTION: Electronic syndromic surveillance may have value in detecting emerging pathogens or a biological weapons release. Hospitals that have an agile process to evaluate chief complaints of patients seeking emergency care may be able to more quickly identify subtle changes in the community's health. An easily adaptable prototype system was developed to monitor emergency department patient visits during the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville, Kentucky, from April 16-May 14, 2002. Use of the system was continued during the same festival periods in 2003 and 2004. METHOD: Twelve area hospitals in Louisville, Kentucky, participated in a prospective analysis of the chief symptoms of patients who sought care in the emergency department during the Kentucky Derby Festival during 2002. Six hospitals were classified as computer record groups (CRG) and used their existing computerized record capabilities. The other 6 hospitals used a personal digital assistant (PDA) with customized software (PDA group). Data were evaluated by the health department epidemiologist using SaTScan, a modified version of a cancer cluster detection program, to look for clusters of cases above baseline over time and by Zip code. RESULTS: All 12 hospitals were able to collect and provide data elements during the study period. The 6 CRG hospitals were able to perform daily data transmission; however, 3 CRG hospitals were unable to interpret their data because it was transmitted in pure text format. In contrast, data from all 6 PDA group hospitals were interpretable. Real-time data analysis was compared with post-event data, and it was found that the real-time evaluation correctly identified no unusual disease activity during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The 12 hospitals participating in this study demonstrated that community-wide surveillance using computerized data was possible and that the 6 study hospitals using a PDA could quickly interpret emergency department patients' chief complaints. The emergency department chief complaints group could serve as a disease sentinel for the community.

An organized approach to trauma care: legacy of R Adams Cowley.

The organized approach to caring for trauma patients was introduced into the civilian setting by the innovative pioneer, R Adams Cowley. His system in Maryland has the following 11 components: (1) a State Police Aviation Division that transports patients throughout the State; (2) trained paramedics at the scene of the accident as well as on the helicopter, who will stabilize the patients en route to the Shock Trauma Center; (3) one central dispatch communication center in Baltimore that coordinates information between paramedics and the Trauma Center; (4) a Shock Trauma Center with a helicopter landing zone near the building; (5) trained trauma nurses and trauma technicians to transfer the patient from the helicopter by stretcher to the resuscitation area; if there is a special complication, such as an airway problem, the anesthesiologist and or trauma surgeon may meet the helicopter on the roof as well; (6) trauma surgeons, board-certified in surgery, with a certificate of added qualification in surgical critical care, to treat the critically ill trauma patients in the resuscitation area; (7) a CT scan and portable X-ray units in the admission area that aid in the diagnosis of the injury; (8) operating rooms adjacent to the admission area for repair of trauma injuries; (9) a surgical intensive unit to care for the trauma patient; (10) a team of specialty physicians trained in a wide variety of specialties who work as a multidisciplinary unit caring for the hospitalized patient; and (11) an ambulatory outpatient unit that allows the patient to be followed in the center after discharge. Dr. R Adams Cowley incorporated each of these 11 components for an organized trauma center into Maryland. In recognition of his landmark contributions to trauma, the eight-story Shock Trauma Center was named the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center. There is growing evidence that this organized system in trauma care seen in Maryland must be replicated in every state in our nation. The results of the Health Resources and Services Administration Report in 2002 show serious limitations in our nation's organized approach to emergency and trauma care. This report indicates that many Americans do not have access to well-trained pre-hospital emergency personnel. Between 10 and 15% of the US population does not have access to basic emergency medical and communication services. Moreover, the presence of key trauma system components continues to vary throughout the country, most likely because of growing economic constraints. Emergency communication systems remain fragmented, and adequate training programs and protective equipment for health personnel remains notably absent. The threat of inadequate funding for the state manifests itself in the consistent uneasiness regarding the recruitment and continued retention of trauma care providers. Federal authorities must devise national emergency medical and organized trauma programs to save the lives of injured Americans.

Activities of the International Radio Medical Centre (C.I.R.M.) in Rome during the last five years (1996-2000). Centro Internazionale Radio Medico.

This paper reviews medical activity provided from 1996 to 2000 by the International Radio Medical Centre (Centro Internazionale Radio Medico, C.I.R.M.). C.I.R.M. is a non-profit organization headquartered in Rome and providing freely telemedical advice to ships flying of any flag navigating on all seas of the world, to civil airplanes and to small Italian islands. From 1996 to 2000 C.I.R.M. has assisted 4,982 patients, 4,686 of which (94%) on board ships, 85 on airplanes and 206 on small Italian islands. More than 65% of requests of telemedical advice received by C.I.R.M. were from non-Italian ships. This indicates the really international nature of C.I.R.M.'s activity. The largest number of medical requests come from the Atlantic Ocean, followed by the Mediterranean sea, Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean. In terms of pathologies assisted, accidents took the first place, followed as main pathologies by gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular pathologies, respiratory disorders, infectious and parasitic diseases and nervous system complaints. Analysis of the outcome of C.I.R.M.'s medical activity showed that more than 50% of patients assisted were recovered or improved while assisted by the Centre.

Prehospital classification combined with an in-hospital trauma radio system response reduces cost and duration of evaluation of the injured patient.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to determine whether a prehospital trauma classification system (PHTCS) in combination with an in-hospital trauma radio system response (IHTRSR) impacts emergency care of the injured patient. METHODS: In 1991 our trauma center used no prehospital trauma classification system. A PHTCS was implemented in 1992, and in 1993 the PHTCS was integrated with an IHTRSR: RESULTS: Implementation of the PHTCS and IHTRSR resulted in a significant reduction in the time required for initial evaluation of the trauma patient with an associated reduction in cost. Reduction in time of the initial trauma evaluation was noted in both adult and pediatric populations, in patients with a blunt mechanism of injury, and in the injured patients posing the greatest strain to health care resources. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of a PHTCS with an IHTRSR has a significant impact on the cost and time of emergency treatment of the trauma victim with no adverse effect on patient outcome. Use of an integrated trauma response provides cost-effective and expeditious care of the injured patient and should be considered in trauma system development.

A review of the present emergency medical care system in Japan.

EMT's in the United States initiate emergency treatment including patient resuscitation at accident locations. Such treatment has only recently become available in Japan. In 1992, Emergency Life Support Technicians (ELT's) became available in Japan. ELT's can now implement emergency treatment similar in scope to that of EMT's in the United States. We expect the rate of lifesaving resuscitation and subsequent rehabilitation will improve dramatically. The triage decision making process is designed to aid in choosing appropriate health care facilities. The highest available level of medical expertise should be brought into the triage decision making process. Throughout Japan, improvements in the emergency medical care system are being made in an ongoing process. The Tokyo Fire Department in particular has made great progress in updating and improving its system. It continues to investigate possible innovations which could lead to further improvements.

Creation of the Emergency Medical Radio Service--FCC. Final rule.

The Commission has adopted rules that create the Emergency Medical Radio Service. This action was taken to redress the adverse consequences on public health and safety resulting from current crowding on emergency medical channels. The rule changes will establish a discrete radio service category dedicated strictly to eligibles providing basic or advanced life support services on an ongoing basis and thereby ensure the reliability of emergency medical communications.