Outcome of travelers who refuse transport after emergency medical services evaluation at an international airport.
Prehosp Emerg Care
; 9(4): 434-8, 2005.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16263678
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the short-term outcome of patients refusing transport after emergency medical services (EMS) evaluation at an international airport.METHODS:
This was a prospective, descriptive, observational study of patients who refused transport after evaluation by Philadelphia Fire Department paramedics at Philadelphia International Airport from July 2003 through March 2004. Paramedics contacted a medical command physician (MCP), who recorded the patient's contact information. Three days later, one investigator attempted to contact the patient to administer a survey of the medical course in the three days following the initial encounter.RESULTS:
Of 90 patients enrolled, 64 (71%) were reached in follow-up. Their average age was 45 years (range 10 months to 80 years); 41 (63%) were female. The most common presenting complaints were trauma-related (22 patients, 34%), neurologic (12, 19%), and gastrointestinal (7, 11%). The most common reasons for refusing transport were belief that their complaint was not serious (48, 75%) and fear they would miss a flight (34 patients, 53%). In the three days following the initial encounter, no patients recontacted 9-1-1, 16 patients (25%) had a recurrence of their initial complaints, and 32 patients (50%) saw or talked to a physician. There was one hospitalization but no deaths. Among patients lost to follow-up, no deaths of U.S. citizens were detected.CONCLUSIONS:
Most patients who refused transport after EMS evaluation at an international airport had good short-term outcomes. These results may assist paramedics and MCPs to manage refusals in this setting and to allow patients to make informed decisions.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Travel
/
Emergency Medical Services
Type of study:
Evaluation_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
Prehosp Emerg Care
Journal subject:
MEDICINA DE EMERGENCIA
Year:
2005
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States