A nationwide analysis of emergency medical services' responses during six waves of COVID-19
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View abstract on PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.The COVID-19 pandemic initially decreased major trauma and motor vehicle accident responses but increased fever and respiratory calls. Later pandemic waves saw a return to overall increased emergency medical service (EMS) responses.
Area Of Science
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background
- The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted emergency medical services (EMS) globally.
- Understanding these impacts is crucial for healthcare system preparedness.
- The Israeli National EMS System (Magen David Adom, MDA) experienced distinct phases during the pandemic.
Purpose Of The Study
- To analyze the effect of the first six COVID-19 waves on prehospital responses by MDA.
- To compare EMS response patterns during pandemic waves with historical control periods.
Main Methods
- Retrospective analysis of MDA's command-and-control database (January 2019 - July 2022).
- Comparison of EMS responses during six COVID-19 waves against a historical control period.
- Utilized a 7-day moving average for trend analysis across 1,242,225 total responses.
Main Results
- First two waves: Increased responses for fever and respiratory symptoms; decreased responses for major trauma and motor vehicle accidents (MVA).
- Third wave: No significant changes in responses for respiratory, cardiac, or major trauma complaints.
- Subsequent waves: Significant increases observed across all response types compared to control periods.
Conclusions
- Early COVID-19 waves altered EMS response patterns, prioritizing respiratory and fever-related calls over trauma.
- A gradual normalization and subsequent increase in overall EMS responses occurred in later pandemic waves.
- Findings highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of EMS demand during a prolonged public health crisis.
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