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Increasing utilisation of emergency ambulances.
Judy A Lowthian1, Peter A Cameron, Johannes U Stoelwinder
1Ambulance Victoria, 375 Manningham Road, Doncaster, VIC 3108, Australia. judy.lowthian@monash.edu
Summary
Emergency ambulance use is rising globally, straining healthcare systems. Factors like aging populations and increased health awareness are potential drivers needing further study.
Area of Science:
- Emergency medicine
- Health services research
- Public health
Background:
- Rising ambulance utilization is linked to increased Emergency Department (ED) attendances and hospital system pressures.
- ED overcrowding is frequently reported, while strains on ambulance services are less studied.
- Ambulance services face increasing demands, impacting healthcare system efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review global trends in emergency ambulance utilization.
- To identify and discuss the primary drivers contributing to increased ambulance demand.
- To inform targeted strategies for managing ambulance service utilization.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search across online databases, search engines, and journals.
- Inclusion of audit reports to gather relevant data.
- Review of proposed contributing factors to increased ambulance use.
Main Results:
- Ambulance utilization has increased in many developed nations over the last two decades.
- Similar annual growth rates observed in Australia and the United Kingdom.
- Factors such as population aging, social support changes, accessibility, pricing, and health awareness are proposed drivers.
Conclusions:
- The escalating use of emergency ambulances places significant demands on healthcare systems.
- Potential compromises in access, quality, safety, and patient outcomes are a concern.
- Accurate identification of demand drivers is crucial for developing effective utilization reduction strategies.
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