NIST Study: Paramedic Crew Size Matters When it Comes to Patient Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Crew size makes a difference in patient care.
Twelve-lead EKGs were applied sooner and intubations were faster when the crew consisted of at least two paramedics, one of whom was on an engine.
These preliminary results of a NIST study were released Thursday at a seminar during the annual Congressional Fire Services Institute event.
The study used the basic concepts that NIST engineers followed while conducting the examination of crew size on the fire ground, said Lori Moore-Merrell, assistant to IAFF General President Harold A. Schaitberger.
The project involved documenting the tasks of two, three and four person crews.
Final results will be released in the near future after the data is analyzed by officials at the University of North Carolina, a partner in the effort, she said.
The final document will be similar to one released Wednesday involving the fire service. It will contain graphs and pictures as well as the methodology.
Explaining the reason for the EMS study, Moore-Merrell said: "The overall goal is to reduce injury and death by making better decisions about resource deployment in a risk-filled environment."
Administrators in many jurisdictions have been debating about placing an ALS provider on an engine that responds along with an ambulance. Analysts are attempting to determine if that makes a difference.
EMS crews in Montgomery County, Md. and Fairfax County, Va participated in the project. One scenario involved a patient on the third floor of an apartment, another was a fall from a two-story building, as well as a chest pain call that turned into a cardiac arrest.
Preliminary statistics showed the four-person crew performed their tasks much faster than the others.
The project is being funded by an AFG grant.
On Wednesday, NIST released its findings for the similar fire response study after reviewing and recording how different sized crews conducted tasks at a fire.
The data showed crews with the most people performed their duties much faster.
The 22 tasks included stopping a hydrant, conducting scene size-up, engaging pumps, entering the building, searching for victims, placing ground ladders and other duties.
