Prehospital emergency care : official journal of the National Association of EMS Physicians and the National Association of State EMS Directors
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To describe how primary care physicians (PCPs) transport seriously ill children from their offices to emergency departments (EDs). ⋯ The PCPs often failed to call EMS for seriously ill children seen in the office and, instead, used the family's auto for emergency transportation. In this survey, transport time and cost were not barriers to use of EMS. The physicians expressed a lack of confidence in EMS providers' pediatric skills. Targeting educational programs to PCPs that highlight 1) the availability, training, and skill of EMS personnel and 2) the medicolegal risks of family transportation may result in more appropriate use of EMS for children.
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To determine the safety and efficacy of succinylcholine, as an adjunct to endotracheal intubation, administered by paramedics trained in its use. ⋯ Paramedics trained to use succinylcholine, to assist the process of endotracheal intubation, can safely intubate a high percentage of patients.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of forearm and upper arm blood pressures.
In the prehospital setting it is not always feasible to obtain blood pressure (BP) readings from the upper arm. This study was performed to compare BPs obtained from subjects' forearms and upper arms in order to assess the utility of forearm BP as a surrogate for standard BP. ⋯ Forearm BP is a fairly good predictor of standard upper arm BP in most patients. Forearm BP may be used when measurement of upper arm BP is not feasible.
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To determine whether EMS educational programs in North Carolina adequately prepare paramedics, and whether there is additional value to an associate of applied science (AAS) degree education in EMS when compared with traditional certificate training programs. ⋯ While administrators and paramedics believe the current EMS educational programs in North Carolina adequately prepare students to function as paramedics, there are identifiable areas that require additional emphasis. There appears to be additional value to an AAS education when compared with traditional certificate EMS educational programs.
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To determine whether a course in emergency medical services (EMS) impacts on the perceived ability of medical students to render care in emergencies such as choking and cardiac arrest, and affects their choice of emergency medicine as a career. ⋯ A course in EMS has significant impact on the perceived ability and career choice of medical students. Further study of an EMS curriculum design is needed to determine what information is critical to medical students' education and valuable in their career choice decisions.