ESO Announces Peer-Reviewed COVID-19 EMS Research
ESO Announces Peer-Reviewed Research Describing Characteristics of COVID-19 EMS Encounters with Linked Hospital Diagnoses
Key Findings from the Report Include:
- COVID-19 Diagnoses and Ailments: Those with COVID-19 hospital diagnoses were more likely to present with elevated heart and respiratory rate, hypoxia and fever during the EMS encounter.
- COVID-19 Suspicion: A COVID-19 EMS suspicion was documented for 78 percent of hospital-diagnosed COVID-19 patients.
- Patient Origin: EMS responses for patients with COVID-19 were more likely to originate from a skilled nursing or assisted living facility.
- PPE Usage: PPE usage by EMS was more frequently documented on records of patients who had hospital diagnosed COVID-19.
- Dispatch Complaints: While dispatch complaints for hospital-confirmed COVID-19 patients most commonly included general illness and breathing difficulties, there were also cases dispatched as falls, chest pain, and strokes.
- Demographic Insights: Consistent with reported in-hospital findings, African American and Hispanic patients made up a disproportionately larger number of COVID-19 diagnoses.
