Rural emergency medical services: patients, destinations, times, and services.
This study sought to describe the volume of use, mix of patients, origin and destination of runs, times and distances to care, and the volume of clinical services provided in a rural emergency medical services region. This study summarizes all 6,080 rural emergency ambulance trip reports filed from April through September 1991 from the 12 rural counties surrounding Augusta, GA. Rural ambulances are regularly used and are used extensively by elderly populations. The pattern of services provided suggests that while advanced care may or may not have been indicated, it was rarely provided and that rural emergency medical service programs should consider a greater reliance on basic life support teams.
Morrisey
M A
MA
Lister Hill Center for Health Policy, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294, USA.
Ohsfeldt
R L
RL
Johnson
V
V
Treat
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D005845:Georgia; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data