Journal
ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Volume 14, Issue 5, Pages 441-447Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1197/j.aem.2007.01.019
Keywords
emergency medical services; prehospital care; emergency medicine; geriatrics; epidemiology
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Funding
- NIA NIH HHS [1K23AG028942-01] Funding Source: Medline
- NINDS NIH HHS [1K23NS41952-05] Funding Source: Medline
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Objectives: To characterize older adult emergency department (ED) visits arriving by emergency medical services (EMS) and to identify factors associated with those patient visits. Methods: A secondary analysis of the ED component of the 1997-2000 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey using logistic regression analyses was conducted. The dependent variable was the modes of arrival (EMS vs. not EMS) to the ED. Independent variables were grouped into four domains: demographic, clinical, system, and service characteristics. Results: Between 1997 and 2000, 38% of EMS responses were for patients aged 65 years a6d older. During that period, 62.2 million older adult ED patient visits occurred; 38% arrived via EMS. The average rate of EMS utilization by older adults was 167/1,000 population per year, more than four times the rate for younger patients (39/1,000 population). Fifty-three percent of EMS responses with transport to an ED for older adults resulted in hospital admission. Factors found to be associated with EMS mode of arrival included demographic (older age and urban residence), clinical (need for more rapid care and circulatory system illnesses), and service (need for procedures). Conclusions: Older adults account for a large proportion of EMS responses and use EMS at a disproportionately high rate. As the older adult population grows, EMS systems must prepare for the increased volurne of older adults by making changes in training, operations, and equipment.
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