RSS 1.0South Central Ambulance Service [SCAS]
Publications from the South Central Ambulance Service. To find out more about SCAS visit their website at https://www.scas.nhs.uk
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Improving recording and reporting of dementia and frailty via electronic patient record by ambulance staff in a single service (IDEAS)Dementia is common in older adults assessed by ambulance services. However, inconsistent reporting via the patient record may result in this diagnosis being overlooked by healthcare staff further down the care pathway. This can have a deleterious effect on subsequent patient care, increasing morbidity and mortality. We sought to understand how and where ambulance staff would like to record this finding on the electronic patient record (ePR). Abstract published with permission.
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Reducing ambulance conveyance for older people with and without dementia: evidence of the role of social care from a regional, year-long service evaluation using retrospective routine dataOlder people, especially those with dementia, have a high risk of deterioration following admission to hospital. More than 60% of older people attended by South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) clinicians are conveyed to hospital, although many conveyances may not have been due to life-threatening conditions. We aimed to understand patterns of conveyance and alternative referral pathways used following ambulance attendance to an older person. Abstract published with permisson.
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An EXploration of the facilitators and barriers to paramedics' assessment and treatment of pain in PAediatric patients following Trauma (EX-PAT)Pain is a common symptom among patients presenting to ambulance services and is often associated with traumatic injury. Assessment and management of pain in children in the pre-hospital setting is suboptimal. This study aimed to understand the facilitators and barriers experienced by paramedics in their assessment and management of pain in children who have sustained traumatic injuries. Abstract published with permission.
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Prehospital advanced airway management by ambulance technicians and paramedics: is clinical practice sufficient to maintain skills?Introduction: Ambulance paramedics are now trained routinely in advanced airway skills, including tracheal intubation. Initial training in this skill requires the insertion of 25 tracheal tubes, and further ongoing training is attained through clinical practice and manikin-based practice. In contrast, training standards for hospital-based practitioners are considerably greater, requiring approximately 200 tracheal intubations before practice is unsupervised. With debate growing regarding the efficacy of paramedic intubation, there is a need to assess current paramedic airway practice in order to review whether initial training and maintenance of skills provide an acceptable level of competence with which to practice advanced airway skills. Methods: All ambulance patient report forms (anonymised) for the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2007 were reviewed, and data relating to airway management were collected. Paramedic and technician identification codes were used to determine the number of airway procedures undertaken on an individual basis. Results: Of the 269 paramedics, 128 (47.6%) had undertaken no intubation and 204 (75.8%) had undertaken one or less intubation in the 12-month study period. The median number of intubations per paramedic during the 12-month period was 1.0 (range 0–11). A total of 76 laryngeal mask insertion attempts were recorded by 41 technicians and 30 paramedics. The median number of laryngeal mask insertions per paramedic/technician during the 12-month period was 0 (range 0–2). A survey of ongoing continuing professional development across all ambulance trusts demonstrated no provision for adequate training to compensate for the lack of clinical exposure to advanced airway skills. Conclusion: Paramedics use advanced airway skills infrequently. Continuing professional development programmes within ambulance trusts do not provide the necessary additional practice to maintain tracheal intubation skills at an acceptable level. Advanced airway management delivered by ambulance crews is likely to be inadequate with such infrequent exposure to the skill. https://emj.bmj.com/content/26/12/888. This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emj.2008.064642
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The theory and application of pulse oximetryPulse oximetry is widely used in the prehospital environment, yet researchers question whether health professionals fully understand the theory to support the practical application of its use. This article explores the fundamental theory of pulse oximetry to give applied understanding. From a prehospital perspective, it details and examines the advantages and limitations of this observational aid, which must be considered when making clinical decisions regarding a patient’s care. Abstract published with permission.
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Long term outcomes of participants in the paramedic-2 randomised trial of adrenaline in out of hospital cardiac arrestWe recently reported early outcomes in patients enrolled in a randomised trial of adrenaline in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the PARAMEDIC-2 (Prehospital Assessment of the Role of Adrenaline: Measuring the Effectiveness of Drug Administration in Cardiac Arrest) trial. The purpose of the present paper is to report long-term survival, quality of life, functional and cognitive outcomes in cardiac arrest patients who survived. https://emj.bmj.com/content/37/10/e4.2 This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/emermed-2020-999abs.6
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Bacterial tonsillitis: prevalence, prediction and treatment by the ECPSore throat or tonsillitis is not necessarily considered a life-threatening emergency but such calls are received and attended to by the ambulance service. It is believed that this is because a face-to-face assessment is often required as the symptoms of a high temperature, headache, lethargy, vomiting and a stiff neck are far too similar to those of meningitis. With complex telephone triage now being performed by nurses and emergency care practitioners (ECP) on clinical support desks within most emergency operation centres, it is hoped that this complaint could be narrowed down and a more appropriate ECP response despatched. When presented with tonsillitis in the community, it is difficult for the practitioner to establish whether the infection is of a bacterial or viral origin. Learned behaviour would suggest that white exudates on the tonsils deem a bacterial origin and requires antibiotic treatment, but this can sometimes be a self limiting illness and antibiotic treatment is not indicated and will only assist with resistance. This article looks as the incidence of bacterial tonsillitis, tools to predict bacterial tonsilitis, and the correct antibiotic and length of course once established. It also briefly touches on the Department of Health's current consultation on paramedic prescribing rights and how a delayed prescription treatment plan cannot be achieved working under a patient group directive (PGD) when treating bacterial tonsillitis. Abstract published with permission.
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A lesson on adaptabilityHaving just completed her final year as a student paramedic, Ellie Daubney shares some surprising lessons learned and her recent shifts in perspective towards patient care as she undertakes a new role as a temporary newly qualified paramedic during COVID-19. Abstract published with permission.
