The role of physician–staffed ambulances: the outcome of a pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of physician-staffed ambulances in a pilot study. Methods: All physician-staffed ambulance missions conducted in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and evaluated for the type of missions and the need of a physician. Results: Out of 1 381 physician-staffed missions, 511 were cancelled or managed by telephone. Around 239 (17%) missions required active intervention, of which only one was considered directly life-saving. Conclusions: Most of the missions neither required the interventional skills of a physician, nor could they be performed at distance. However, the added medical value of physicians was found to be in other prehospital situations, such as critical decision-making, staff education and research.

Keywords

• Prehospital
• Physician-staffed ambulance
• Life-saving