Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Department of Health Service Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences,
2 Department of Health in Emergencies and Disasters, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences
3 Student Research Committee, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Department of Operating Room, School of Paramedical, Qom University of Med Sciences, Qom, Iran
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prehospital emergency care system is one of the important parts of the health
system. Heavy traffic, increasing urban population, and growing demands for prehospital emergency
services are challenges faced by this section of the health system. One of the approaches to deal
with this issue is using motor ambulances.
AIMS: This study aims to investigate the missions of motor ambulances, ambulances, and the effects
of motor ambulance services on response time and ambulance missions.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This applied research has been designed as a descriptive and
cross‑sectional study. Overall, 267,836 missions carried out by ambulances and motor ambulances
of Tehran emergency medical service (EMS) Center in the years 2014 and 2015 were investigated.
The data were gathered personally by visiting Tehran EMS Center. The data were analyzed by
Excel (2013) software.
RESULTS: The average response time for ambulances and motor ambulances were 16 min and
14 min and 13 s, respectively. Most of the ambulance and motor ambulance missions were reportedly
due to weakness (20%) and heart problems (16%). In 57% of ambulance missions and 71.5% of
motor ambulance missions, the patients refused to being transferred to the hospital. Most of the
transport missions to hospital (24%) were caused by traffic accidents.
CONCLUSIONS: According to the results, the response time was higher than the national standards.
Locating motor ambulances on the streets and outside emergency stations during peak traffic times
decreased the response time by 2 min and by providing the necessary services in the scene and
transferring fewer patients to the hospital, it is possible to provide further services by assigning
ambulances to more urgent missions. Thus, it is recommended to employ more seasoned staff,
multiply motor ambulances, and locate motor ambulances precisely to decrease response time and
also at a lower cost more citizens are provided with prehospital care.
Keywords
Internal Emergency Predictors to Determine the Instrument in
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