Emergency Medical Services amid New Wave of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak in Khon Kaen, Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.6243Keywords:
Emergency medical services, Prehospital emergency care, Coronavirus disease 2019, Pandemics, Emergency careAbstract
BACKGROUND: COVID-19 outbreaks occurring in many countries around the world have had a significant impact on emergency medical services (EMS) in terms of the number of operations and procedures performed, including those on ambulances. However, the number of EMS amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases in Khon Kaen, Thailand has not been well studied.
AIM: The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the relationship between the use of EMS and the outbreak of COVID-19.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was done in Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen, Thailand with a single EMS centered. Data was collected between March 27, 2021 and April 9, 2021 and designated as (Day-7 to Day 7 of pandemic services) as well as normal services which collected data between March 27 and April 9, 2019 (Day-7 to Day 7 of normal services).
RESULTS: Three hundred eight EMS operations were examined. A total of 77.9% (n = 95) of pandemic services were for males and the mean age of the patients was 32.1 ± 5.4 years. During the normal services in 2019, the average number of EMS operations was 13.3 ± 2.4 times per day over the two weeks of the study. In 2021, before the outbreak (Day-7 to Day 1), the average number of EMS operations was 13.2 ± 1.8 times/day. After Day 1, there was a drop in the number of EMS operations which was associated with an increase in COVID-19 infections (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The number of EMS users during the COVID-19 outbreak decreased considerably compared to the pre-epidemic levels and normal service intervals, including the severity of the users, were more severe than normal.
Downloads
Metrics
Plum Analytics Artifact Widget Block
References
Vatan A, Güçlü E, Öğütlü A, Kibar FA, Karabay O. Knowledge and attitudes towards COVID-19 among emergency medical service workers. Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992). 2020;66(11):1553-9. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.66.11.1553 PMid:33295409 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-9282.66.11.1553
Ardebili ME, Naserbakht M, Bernstein C, Alazmani-Noodeh F, Hakimi H, Ranjbar H. Healthcare providers experience of working during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Am J Infect Control. 2021;49(5):547-54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.001 PMid:33031864 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.10.001
Kovacs G, Sowers N, Campbell S, French J, Atkinson P. Just the facts: Airway management during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. CJEM. 2020;22(4):440-4. https://doi.org/10.1017/cem.2020.353 PMid:32223782 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/cem.2020.353
Jensen T, Holgersen MG, Jespersen MS, Blomberg SN, Folke F, Lippert F, et al. Strategies to handle increased demand in the COVID-19 crisis: A coronavirus EMS support track and a web-based self-triage system. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2021;25(1):28-38. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2020.1817212 PMid:32870754 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2020.1817212
Apiratwarakul K, Songserm W, Bhudhisawasdi V, Wachirachiaranon P. Use of emergency medical services: Experience 100 days after first case of COVID-19. J Med Assoc Thai. 2021;104(Suppl 1):S5-7. https://doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.S01.12123 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.S01.12123
Apiratwarakul K, Kongudom N, Kotruchin P, Phungoen P, Larthum K. Visits to the emergency department during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. J Med Assoc Thai. 2021;104(Suppl 1):S1-4. https://doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.S01.12122 DOI: https://doi.org/10.35755/jmedassocthai.2021.S01.12122
Şan İ, Usul E, Bekgöz B, Korkut S. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on emergency medical services. Int J Clin Pract. 2020;75(5):e13885. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.13885 PMid:33280198 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcp.13885
Murphy DL, Barnard LM, Drucker CJ, Yang BY, Emert JM, Schwarcz L, et al. Occupational exposures and programmatic response to COVID-19 pandemic: An emergency medical services experience. Emerg Med J. 2020;37(11):707-13. https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2020-210095 PMid:32958477 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2020-210095
Usul E, Şan I, Bekgöz B. The Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the anxiety level of emergency medical services professionals. Psychiatr Danub. 2020;32(3-4):563-9. https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2020.563 PMid:33370767 DOI: https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2020.563
Jaffe E, Sonkin R, Alpert EA, Magid A, Knobler HY. Flattening the COVID-19 curve: the unique role of emergency medical services in containing a global pandemic. Isr Med Assoc J. 2020;22(8):476-82. PMid:33236579
Prezant DJ, Lancet EA, Zeig-Owens R, Lai PH, Appel D, Webber MP, et al. System impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on New York City’s emergency medical services. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. 2020;1(6):1205-13. https://doi.org10.1002/emp2.12301 PMid:33392524 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/emp2.12301
Al-Wathinani A, Hertelendy AJ, Alhurishi S, Mobrad A, Alhazmi R, Altuwaijri M, et al. increased emergency calls during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia: A national retrospective study. Healthcare (Basel). 2020;9(1):14. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010014 PMid:33374453 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9010014
Katayama Y, Kiyohara K, Kitamura T, Hayashida S, Shimazu T. Influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on an emergency medical service system: A population-based, descriptive study in Osaka, Japan. Acute Med Surg. 2020;7(1):e534. https://doi.org/10.1002/ams2.534 PMid:32685173 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ams2.534
Ageta K, Naito H, Yorifuji T, Obara T, Nojima T, Yamada T, et al. Delay in emergency medical service transportation responsiveness during the COVID-19 pandemic in a minimally affected region. Acta Med Okayama. 2020;74(6):513-20. https://doi.org/10.18926/AMO/61210 PMid:33361871
Ienghong K, Kleebbuakwan K, Apiratwarakul K, Phungoen P, Gaysonsiri D, Bhudhisawasdi V. Comparison of cleaning methods for ultrasound probes at an emergency department in a resource-limited country. J Med Assoc Thai. 2020;103(Suppl 6):67-71.
Apiratwarakul K, Songserm W, Ienghong K, Phungoen P, Gaysonsiri D, Bhudhisawasdi V. The role of mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation devices in emergency medical services. J Med Assoc Thai. 2020;103(Suppl 6):98-101.
Apiratwarakul K, Ienghong K, Gaysonsiri D, Mitsungnern T, Buranasakda M, Bhudhisawasdi V. The effectiveness of oxygen-powered inhalation devices in prehospital care. J Med Assoc Thai. 2020;103(Suppl 6):58-60.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2021 Korakot Apiratwarakul, Takaaki Suzuki, Ismet Celebi, Somsak Tiamkao, Vajarabhongsa Bhudhisawasdi, Dhanu Gaysonsiri, Kamonwon Ienghong (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0