Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transportation of Trauma Patients by Geographic Locations and In-Hospital Outcomes: Experience from Qatar

Hassan Al-Thani, Ahammed Mekkodathil, Attila J. Hertelendy, Ian Howland, Tim Frazier and Ayman El-Menyar
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Hassan Al-Thani: Department of Surgery, Trauma and Vascular Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Doha 3050, Qatar
Ahammed Mekkodathil: Clinical Research, Trauma and Vascular Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Doha 3050, Qatar
Attila J. Hertelendy: Department of Decision Sciences and Business Analytics, College of Business, Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA
Ian Howland: Critical Care Paramedic, HMC Ambulance Service, Doha 3050, Qatar
Tim Frazier: Emergency and Disaster Management Program, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20001, USA
Ayman El-Menyar: Clinical Research, Trauma and Vascular Surgery, Hamad General Hospital, Doha 3050, Qatar

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Background : Prehospital care provided by emergency medical services (EMS) plays an important role in improving patient outcomes. Globally, prehospital care varies across countries and even within the same country by the geographic location and access to medical services. We aimed to explore the prehospital trauma care and in-hospital outcomes within the urban and rural areas in the state of Qatar. Methods : A retrospective analysis was conducted utilizing data from the Qatar National Trauma Registry for trauma patients who were transported by EMS to a level 1 trauma center between 2017 and 2018. Data were analyzed and compared between urban and rural areas and among the different municipalities in which the incidents occurred. Results: Across the study duration, 1761 patients were transported by EMS. Of that, 59% were transported from an urban area and 41% from rural areas. There were significant differences in the on-scene time and total prehospital time as a function of urban and rural areas and municipalities; however, the response time across the study groups was comparable. There were no significant differences in blood transfusion, intubation, hospital length of stay, and mortality. Conclusion : Within different areas in Qatar, the EMS response time and in-hospital outcomes were comparable. This indicates that the provision of prehospital care across the country is similar. The prehospital and acute in-hospital care are accessible for everyone in the country at no cost. Understanding the differences in EMS utilization and prehospital times contributes to the policy development in terms of equitable distribution of healthcare resources.

Keywords: rural; urban; trauma; emergency medical services; municipalities; Qatar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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