A study of emergency ambulance utilisation

An analysis of 373 emergency ambulance calls within the Broadmeadows municipality of Melbourne showed that eighty-seven per cent were handled by standard road car (RC) ambulance, and 13 per cent by mobile intensive care ambulance (MICA). Calls most commonly were associated with cardiorespiratory episodes, loss of consciousness and trauma. Twenty-three per cent of calls did not result in a patient being transferred to hospital mainly because of patient refusal or the absence of a medical need. Forty-two per cent of calls were categorised "not urgent" or eventually the ambulance was not required. This review highlights important topics for further study of ambulance services.