Videoconferencing Between Ambulances and Physician at the Emergency Medical Dispatch Center, Effects on On-Site Patient Treatment and Patterns of Referral

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The prehospital resources are limited. The emergency medical dispatch center (EMDC) is manned by qualified health care personnel around the clock. The investigators believe that the EMDC is an unexploited resource in the prehospital treatment of patients. By the use of videoconferencing the investigators will activate this resource. Mobile videoconferencing between ambulances and physician at the EMDC enables patient consultation at a distance. Video consultation between patient and the physician at the EMDC can take place when the patient is at home or in the ambulance. The primary aim of this study is to examine the effect of video consultation between physicians at the EMDC and patients receiving treatment by ambulance personnel on the number of patients receiving final treatment on-site in the pre hospital setting.

Official Title
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Telemedical Solutions in Medical Emergencies, Advantages and Disadvantages for Patients, Healthcare Professionals, and Healthcare System. Study 2: Videoconferencing Between Ambulances and Physician at the Emergency Medical Dispatch Center,

Conditions
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Acute Illness, Acute Injury

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Video consultation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Less ill/slightly injured patients receiving prehospital care by ambulance personnel Exclusion Criteria: -
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Video consultation<br>Patients in this arm receive video consultation from physician at the emergency medical dispatch center | Device: Video consultation<br> <br> * Other names: 4G/3G mobile network;|
| No Intervention: Telephone consultation<br>Patients receiving prehospital care by ambulance personnel whom receive telephone consultation/supervision by physician at the emergency medical dispatch center. | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Number of patients receiving final treatment on-site prehospitally |  | Final treatment is registered for the present consultation, assessed up 36 months, presented up to 36 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Readmission | For all patients receiving consultation from physician at the dispatch center resulting in final treatment on-site, number of patients admitted to hospital within 3 days will be assessed. | Within 3 days of primary contact, assessed up to 36 months, presented up to 36 months | 
| Change in site of referral | If the department to receive the patient is changed during consultation with physician at the dispatch center. | If destination for patient is changed during consultataion with physician, assessed up to 36 months, presented up to 36 months | 
| Number of treatments delivered by ambulance personnel |  | The number of treatments delivered by ambulance personnel during consultation with physician at the dispatch center, assessed up to 36 months, presented up to 36 months | 
| Change of transportation mode | If the mode of transportation is changed during consultation with physician at the dispatch center. Eg. from ambulance to standard patient transportation without monitoring og the possibility of treatment, ether with patient sitting up or lying down. | If mode of transportation is changed during consultation with physician, assessed up to 36 months, presented up to 36 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Telemedicine, Emergency medical dispatch, Prehospital care, Video conference