Ah, July. One of my favorite months. Our esteemed leader and resident EMS Futurist returns from a "think week" from the shores of Lake Chautauqua serene and at peace with the world. On his return this morning I was inspired by his Zen-like words. To quote "Swayze, why the F@^% haven't you updated the blog recently?"
"But," I foolishly protest, "there hasn't been much to write about. Sure cities are considered cutting back on EMS systems because of the economy. And sure, EMS Week 2009 came and went. And, ok, there is that pesky pandemic flu thing."
But of course we would not call him a Futurist if all he cared about were current events. Hence, the following...
Paul Paris, MD and Daniel Patterson, PhD, are pleased to announce the formation of the Office of EMS Patient and Provider Safety within the Center. The two hope to conduct investigations and direct resources from the national patient safety movements seen in other areas of healthcare to our EMS patients and (as importantly) our EMS brothers and sisters.
In his recent editorial in our bigger, smarter and better looking brother's journal Prehospital Emergency Care, Dr. Paris explains why we need to start looking at these important issues.
How safe is EMS? The truth is, we simply do not
know. Aside from a small series of reports and anecdotes,
we know very little about national patient safety
in EMS. It is clear that prehospital care is challenged by
many factors known to augment error: time urgency,
interruptions, an uncontrolled environment, stress,
variable initial training, and inconsistent continuing education.
The statistics he quotes in the article regarding EMS Provider Safety are staggering.
Occupational injuries other than ambulance crashes
are also very common. EMS providers are subject to a
myriad of musculoskeletal injuries, are victims of violence,
are exposed to potentially infectious body fluids
and airborne pathogens and stress-related illnesses.
In 2000 the rates of injury reported to the Department
of Labor were higher than any other industry.7 An urban
study reported rates of occupational injury of 50
cases per 100 full-time male EMS workers and 86 per
100 females.8 Another study from six New England
states reported back injury rates of 25 per 100 full-time
employees per year and an assault rate of 20 per 100
employees per year.9 Pandemics and other emerging
infectious disease hazards require us to plan for the
safety of our emergency responders.
Unlike other public safety agencies however, there is no system to investigate or mitigate the risks for EMS providers. Dr. Paris suggests that it might be time to recreate the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program for EMS providers.
The good doctors welcome and will reward your ideas and contributions. Paul's challenge to all of you is to list the top three things you consider to be safety risks to either your patients or our providers. Leave a comment below, or email him directly at parispm (at) upmc (dot) edu. Those that contribute will receive the famous Molly Evers designed T-Shirt, but supplies are running low. If not for the t-shirt, then for your safety- please reply quickly.
For Paul's entire editorial, follow this link, or use the reference below.
PREHOSPITAL EMERGENCY CARE 2008;12:92-94
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