EMS non-conveyance: a safe practice to decrease ED crowding or a threat to patient safety?
Paulin J, Kurola J, Koivisto M, et al. EMS non-conveyance: A safe practice to decrease ED crowding or a threat to patient safety? BMC Emerg Med. 2021;21(1):115. doi:10.1186/s12873-021-00508-1.
Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel are in the unique position of providing medical care outside of a healthcare facility. This prospective cohort study conducted in Finland explored the outcomes of patients who were treated by EMS personnel without going to the ED. Findings indicate that 80% of patients treated by EMS did not have any re-contact with the healthcare system (e.g., re-contacted EMS, went to the ED, were hospitalized), suggesting that EMS management of these patients is relatively safe.