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Updated: Jun 26, 2026
06:59
A Novel Approach for the Administration of Medications and Fluids in Emergency Scenarios and Settings
Published on: November 9, 2016
Designing emergency ambulances for the 21st century
S Hignett1, E Crumpton, R Coleman
1Healthcare Ergonomics and Patient Safety research Unit, Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire, UK. s.m.hignett@lboro.ac.uk
Emergency Medicine Journal : EMJ
|January 24, 2009
Summary
Future emergency ambulances require improvements in design and functionality. This study identified nine key challenges to enhance patient care and operational efficiency in mobile healthcare services.
Area of Science:
- Emergency medical services
- Healthcare engineering
- Patient safety
Background:
- The Department of Health envisioned enhanced mobile healthcare services for urgent patient needs in 2005.
- A scoping study investigated future emergency ambulance requirements, funded by the National Patient Safety Agency and Ambulance Service Association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore stakeholder perspectives on future ambulance services.
- To identify design and operational challenges for emergency ambulances.
Main Methods:
- Conducted four stakeholder workshops with clinicians, staff, and manufacturers.
- Reviewed incident reports from national and international databases concerning ambulance design and use.
Main Results:
- Identified nine critical design challenges: access/egress, space/layout, securing people/equipment, communication, security, hygiene, equipment, vehicle engineering, and patient experience.
- Validated these challenges at the national UK ambulance conference (AMBEX 2006).
Conclusions:
- Findings are informing the development of a national specification for future UK emergency ambulances.
- Addressing these design challenges is crucial for improving emergency medical services.
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