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911 Calls for Emergency Medical Services in Heart Failure: A Descriptive Qualitative Study
The Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing
|December 22, 2021
Summary
Emergency medical services (EMS) are frequently activated for heart failure (HF) exacerbations, often due to breathing problems or falls. Callers rarely mention HF, highlighting a need for better patient and family education on managing HF symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Emergency medicine
- Cardiology
- Public health
Background:
- Heart failure (HF) is a prevalent condition necessitating emergency medical services (EMS) activation.
- Understanding the specific reasons for EMS calls in HF patients is crucial for improving care and resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and categorize the reasons cited by individuals for activating EMS during 911 calls involving heart failure patients.
- To analyze the reported symptoms, signs, and events leading to EMS activation.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive qualitative study involving content analysis of 383 transcribed audio files of EMS requests for heart failure patients.
- Data were collected from community-based HF cases.
Main Results:
- Breathing problems (55.4%), chest pain (18.3%), and falls (8.1%) were the most frequent reasons for EMS activation.
- Multiple reasons were reported in most calls (74.9%), with HF diagnosis mentioned in less than 10% of cases.
- Callers rarely identified the underlying heart failure diagnosis during the 911 call.
Conclusions:
- Symptoms and signs of HF exacerbation frequently trigger 911 calls, with falls being a common reported event.
- Interventions are needed to educate HF patients and families on HF management to reduce unnecessary EMS activation and ensure timely response for acute changes.
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