Comparison of EMS Provider In-Transit Performance and Exertion with Standard and Experimental Resuscitation Protocols...

To assess the effect of a device-assisted out- of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) resuscitation approach on provider performance during simulated transport.

BLS and ALS providers were randomized into control and experimental teams. Subjects were fitted with wireless heart rate (HR) monitors. Control teams simulated with standard protocols and equipment; experimental teams with resuscitation-automating devices and goal-directed protocols. Chest compression quality, pulmonary ventilation, defibrillation, and medication administration tasks were monitored; subjects' HR's were continuously recorded.

Ten control and ten experimental teams completed the study (20 EMT-B's; 1 EMT-I, 8 EMT-C's, 11 EMT-P's) with similar resting HR's and age-predicted maximal HR's (mHR). All exhibited suboptimal in-transit resuscitation quality during initial simulations; HR did not differ significantly between the groups. Experimental teams exhibited improved chest compression and ventilation quality during transport along with lower subject HR.

OHCA resuscitation automation improved the in-simulation quality of critical in-transit tasks and reduced provider exertion.