BMC emergency medicine
-
BMC emergency medicine · Jun 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialParaMED Home: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial of paramedic assessment and referral to access medical care at home.
In Australia approximately 25% of Emergency Department (ED) attendances are via ambulance. ED overcrowding in Australia, as in many countries, is common. Measures to reduce overcrowding include the provision of enhanced timely primary care in the community for appropriate low risk injury and illness. Therefore paramedic assessment and referral to a community home hospital service, in preference to transfer to ED, may confer clinical and cost benefit. ⋯ If this trial demonstrates clinical non-inferiority and cost savings associated with the primary assessment service, it will provide one means to safely address ED overcrowding.