Patient outcome using medical protocol to limit "lights and siren" transport.
BACKGROUND
Emergency medical services vehicle collisions (EMVCs) associated with the use of warning "lights and siren" (L&S) are responsible for injuries and death to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and patients. This study examines patient outcome when medical protocol directs L&S transport.


METHODS
During four months, all EMS calls initiated as an emergency request for service and culminating in transport to an emergency department (ED) were included. Medical criteria determined emergent (L&S) versus non-emergent transport. Patients with worsened conditions, as reported by EMS providers, were reviewed.


METHODS
Countywide suburban/rural EMS system.


RESULTS
Ninety-two percent (1,495 of 1,625) of patients were transported nonemergently. Thirteen (1%) of these were reported to have worsened during transport, and none of them suffered any worsened outcome related to the non-L&S transport.


CONCLUSIONS
This medical protocol directing the use of warning L&S during patient transport results in infrequent L&S transport. In this study, no adverse outcomes were found related to non-L&S transports.
Kupas
D F
DF
Department of Emergency Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pa., 17822, USA.
Dula
D J
DJ
Pino
B J
BJ
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004630:Emergencies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008029:Lighting; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011482:Protective Devices; D012423:Rural Health; D018881:Suburban Health