Live video from bystanders’ smartphones to medical dispatchers in real emergencies

BMC Emergency Medicine

Gitte Linderoth¹  Freddy Lippert²  Helle C. Christensen³  Fredrik Folke⁴  Christian S. Meyhoff⁵  Doris Østergaard⁶  Annette K. Ersbøll⁷ 

[1] Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services, University of Copenhagen, Telegrafvej 5, DK-2750, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark;Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services, University of Copenhagen, Telegrafvej 5, DK-2750, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services, University of Copenhagen, Telegrafvej 5, DK-2750, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;Danish Clinical Quality Program (RKKP) ▪ National Clinical Registries, Copenhagen, Denmark;Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services, University of Copenhagen, Telegrafvej 5, DK-2750, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Cardiology, Copenhagen University Hospital – Gentofte, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Copenhagen University Hospital – Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation, CAMES, Copenhagen University Hospital –Herlev, Copenhagen, Denmark;National Institute for Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark;

关键词: Emergency medical dispatcher;    Telephone triage;    Telemedicine;    Emergency medical service;    Dispatcher;    Telehealth;    Videoconference;    Health technology;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12873-021-00493-5

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMedical dispatchers have limited information to assess the appropriate emergency response when citizens call the emergency number. We explored whether live video from bystanders’ smartphones changed emergency response and was beneficial for the dispatcher and caller.MethodsFrom June 2019 to February 2020, all medical dispatchers could add live video to the emergency calls at Copenhagen Emergency Medical Services, Denmark. Live video was established with a text message link sent to the caller’s smartphone using GoodSAM®. To avoid delayed emergency response if the video transmission failed, the medical dispatcher had to determine the emergency response before adding live video to the call. We conducted a cohort study with a historical reference group. Emergency response and cause of the call were registered within the dispatch system. After each video, the dispatcher and caller were given a questionnaire about their experience.ResultsAdding live video succeeded in 838 emergencies (82.2% of attempted video transmissions) and follow-up was possible in 700 emergency calls. The dispatchers’ assessment of the patients’ condition changed in 51.1% of the calls (condition more critical in 12.9% and less critical in 38.2%), resulting in changed emergency response in 27.5% of the cases after receiving the video (OR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.30–1.91) compared to calls without video. Video was added more frequently in cases with sick children or unconscious patients compared with normal emergency calls. The dispatcher recognized other or different disease/trauma in 9.9% and found that patient care, such as the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, obstructed airway or position of the patient, improved in 28.4% of the emergencies. Only 111 callers returned the questionnaire, 97.3% of whom felt that live video should be implemented.ConclusionsIt is technically feasible to add live video to emergency calls. The medical dispatcher’s perception of the patient changed in about half of cases. The odds for changing emergency response were 58% higher when video was added to the call. However, use of live video is challenging with the existing dispatch protocols, and further implementation science is necessary.

【 授权许可】

CC BY