Physician‐staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow‐up from an urban area in Scandinavia
Dublin Core
Title
Physician‐staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow‐up from an urban area in Scandinavia
Subject
Prehospital, Rapid response vehicle, Scandinavia, Sweden, Trauma, Cardiac arrest
Description
Background The aim of this study was to determine when and how rapid response vehicles (RRVs) make a difference
in prehospital care by investigating the number and kinds of RRV assignment dispatches and the prehospital charac-
teristics and interventions involved.
Methods This retrospective cohort study was based on data from a quality assurance system where all assignments
are registered. RRV staff register every assignment directly at the site, using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. There
is no mandatory information requirement or time limit for registration. The study includes data for all RRVs operating
in Region Stockholm, three during daytime hours and one at night – from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
Results In 2021, RRVs in Stockholm were dispatched on 11,283 occasions, of which 3,571 (31.6%) resulted in stand-
downs. In general, stand-downs were less common for older patients. The most common dispatch category
was blunt trauma (1,584 or 14.0%), which accounted for the highest frequency of stand-downs (676 or 6.0%). The sec-
ond most common category was cardiac arrest (1,086 or 9.6%), followed by shortness of breath (691 or 6.1%), medical
not specified (N/S) (596 or 5.3%), and seizures (572 or 5.1%).
Conclusion The study findings confirm that RRVs provide valuable assistance to the ambulance service in Stockholm,
especially for cardiac arrest and trauma patients. In particular, RRV personnel have more advanced medical knowledge
and can administer medications and perform interventions that the regular ambulance service cannot provide.
in prehospital care by investigating the number and kinds of RRV assignment dispatches and the prehospital charac-
teristics and interventions involved.
Methods This retrospective cohort study was based on data from a quality assurance system where all assignments
are registered. RRV staff register every assignment directly at the site, using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. There
is no mandatory information requirement or time limit for registration. The study includes data for all RRVs operating
in Region Stockholm, three during daytime hours and one at night – from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
Results In 2021, RRVs in Stockholm were dispatched on 11,283 occasions, of which 3,571 (31.6%) resulted in stand-
downs. In general, stand-downs were less common for older patients. The most common dispatch category
was blunt trauma (1,584 or 14.0%), which accounted for the highest frequency of stand-downs (676 or 6.0%). The sec-
ond most common category was cardiac arrest (1,086 or 9.6%), followed by shortness of breath (691 or 6.1%), medical
not specified (N/S) (596 or 5.3%), and seizures (572 or 5.1%).
Conclusion The study findings confirm that RRVs provide valuable assistance to the ambulance service in Stockholm,
especially for cardiac arrest and trauma patients. In particular, RRV personnel have more advanced medical knowledge
and can administer medications and perform interventions that the regular ambulance service cannot provide.
Creator
Erik Strandqvist1
, Staffan Olheden1,2, Anders Bäckman1,3, Henrik Jörnvall1,2,4 and Denise Bäckström1,5*
, Staffan Olheden1,2, Anders Bäckman1,3, Henrik Jörnvall1,2,4 and Denise Bäckström1,5*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-023-00519-8
Date
2023
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Erik Strandqvist1
, Staffan Olheden1,2, Anders Bäckman1,3, Henrik Jörnvall1,2,4 and Denise Bäckström1,5*, “Physician‐staffed prehospital units: a retrospective follow‐up from an urban area in Scandinavia,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12152.