Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
-
Multicenter Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Computer assisted assessment and advice for "non-serious" 999 ambulance service callers: the potential impact on ambulance despatch.
To investigate the potential impact for ambulance services of telephone assessment and triage for callers who present with non-serious problems (Category C calls) as classified by ambulance service call takers. ⋯ The findings indicate that telephone assessment of Category C calls identifies patients who are less likely to require emergency department care and that this could have a significant impact on emergency ambulance dispatch rates. Nurses were more likely than paramedics to assess calls as requiring an alternative response to emergency ambulance despatch, but the extent to which this relates to aspects of training and professional perspective is unclear. However, consideration should be given to the acceptability, reliability, and cost consequences of this intervention before it can be recommended for full evaluation.
-
Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Use of out of hours services: a comparison between two organisations.
To investigate differences in numbers and characteristics of patients using primary or emergency care because of differences in organisation of out of hours care. ⋯ The organisation of out of hours care in Maastricht has optimised the GP's gatekeeper function and thereby led to fewer self referrals at the A&E department, compared with Heerlen.