• Andrew H Swain, Manar Al-Salami, Sarah R Hoyle, and Peter D Larsen.
• Department of Surgery, Anaesthesia, and Emergency Medicine, University of Otago Clinical Services, Wellington Free Ambulance, Wellington, New Zealand. andrew.swain@otago.ac.nz
• Emerg Med Australas. 2012 Apr 1;24(2):175-80.

ObjectiveA patient satisfaction survey was undertaken in the Kapiti District of the Wellington Region to ascertain patients' experience and opinions of New Zealand's first extended care paramedic (ECP) service before consideration is given to extending it to other locations within the region. Patient outcomes were also analysed for 1 week following ECP care.MethodsOne hundred patients, 50 attended by ECPs and 50 by standard emergency ambulance service paramedics, were interviewed by an independent assessor, either in person or by phone according to patient preference. The questionnaire was aimed at comparing the experience of both groups of patients, dividing them into those treated at home and those transferred to the ED. ED and general practice records were then reviewed to determine whether the ECP-treated patients attended either facility within 7 days and why.ResultsPatients were very satisfied with their experience of both groups of paramedics but expressed a clear desire to be treated at home if possible. Of the 50 ECP-treated patients, 11 were transferred directly to the ED. Only one clinical complication arose over the next 7 days in those treated in the community: a seizure in a patient with refractory epilepsy.ConclusionThe avoidance of unnecessary transfers to hospital is beneficial to patients, the ambulance service and the ED. This study demonstrates that patients are very satisfied with their assessment and treatment by ECPs, endorsing the proposal that the scheme should be extended across the Wellington Region, and perhaps New Zealand.© 2012 The Authors. EMA © 2012 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

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