A Study of Utilization of Pre-Hospital Emergency Medical Resources—an Example from Tainan City

• Main Authors: Chun-chung Su, 蘇俊聰
• Other Authors: Yu-tien Huang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/g72qgy

碩士 === 環球科技大學 === 公共事務管理研究所 === 103 === Fire and rescue department statistics announced by the National Fire Agency, Ministry of the Interior, between 2005 and 2014 indicate an exponential increase in the number of emergency medical dispatches and emergency admissions each year, resulting in an inadequacy in fire and rescue and emergency room (ER) resources. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the reason for the record-breaking numbers of emergency medical dispatches each year. A number of cities and counties have formulated charging standards for ambulance use to suppress the abuse of pre-hospital emergency medical resources. However, the effects of these regulations are limited. Extant data indicated that the majority of 119 cases where ambulances were dispatched were non-emergency cases, and the majority of emergency patients were ranked Level 5 on the Taiwan Triage and Acuity Scale (TTAS). A literature review was conducted to reference the pre-hospital emergency medical conditions of numerous countries and compile a list of related problems published in newspapers in the recent decade. The data collected in the literature review combine with the data of in-depth interviews with relevant pre- hospital emergency medical personnel were then examined to elucidate current pre-hospital emergency medical conditions in Taiwan. Emergency medical resources should be allocated in accordance with emergency medical procedures to educate the public in realizing that emergency rescue resources are primarily for the emergencies, rather than general use, thereby changing their medical habits. Emergency helplines professionals can be commissioned to provide the public with relevant advice on how to deal with injury cases, what medical approach to undertake, and which hospital to be taken. Subsequently, an ambulance charging system should be implemented where non-emergency patients who insist on using emergency medical resources are charged a fee for such services. In summary of the research findings, the researchers proposed the following suggestions: 1.Arrange inter-bureau communications and referrals to monitor and counsel frequent ambulance patients. 2.Establish a dedicated unit for the handling of traffic accidents. 3.Develop a centralized and universal ambulance charging system. 4.Establish emergency consultation hotlines and commission professional operators. 5.Implement a medical guidance system for emergencies. 6.Improve the extant insurance system.