Impact of Lift Assist Calls on Paramedic Services: A Descriptive Study. (4th March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schierholtz, Tyson; Carter, Dustin; Kane, Alisha; Kemp, Olivia; Gallant, Camille; Sheikh, Bilal; Johnston, William; Zecevic, Aleksandra
• Is Part Of: Prehospital emergency care. Volume 23:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 240
• Publication Date: 2019-03-04
• Subjects: lift assist -- accidental falls -- older adults -- geriatrics -- emergency medical services; 362.18
• DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1483454
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1090-3127

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The aging population in Canada is steadily increasing and is placing greater demand on paramedic services, especially through the growing number of non-emergent lift assist (LA) calls. A LA occurs when a person calls paramedic services and requests assistance to get up or mobilize, usually after experiencing a fall. The patient refuses transport to the emergency department for further medical attention. LA calls are time consuming and are non-reimbursable. The increase in number of this call type, specifically amongst older adults, is placing strain on paramedic services.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics of LA calls in patients aged 65 and older and determine their impact on paramedic services.Methods: A dataset of 1, 121 LA calls of patients aged 65 and older was extracted from Middlesex-London Emergency Medical Services (MLEMS) database of electronic patient care reports collected over 1 year in 2015. Statistical and qualitative analyses were performed to describe LAs, perform time analysis, and extract dominant themes from the text in report notes written by paramedics.Results: The LA calls were generated from 611 individuals: 334 women (54.7%) and 275 men (45%), of which 192 (32%) individuals called more than one time. On average, a LA call lasted 43 minutes and ranged from 6 minutes to 2 hours and 23 minutes. In 2015, paramedics spent 801 hours, or the equivalent of 33 days (24 hours/day), solely conducting LAs for older adults. Text analysis determined that the bedroom (24.9%) and bathroom (17.0%) were the most common locations where LAs occurred. Most frequently, LAs were caused by a collapse or drop (28.7%), slide (25.7%), slip (16.7%), or trip (11.7%).Conclusion: LAs consume the time of paramedics, preventing them from responding to more urgent emergency calls. Alternative solutions are needed to reduce the negative impact of LAs on paramedic services.