International emergency medical services: assessment of developing prehospital systems abroad

• Published in: The Journal of emergency medicine Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. 691 - 696
• Main Authors: VanRooyen, Michael J, Thomas, Tamara L, Clem, Kathleen J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Developing Countries; Emergency and intensive care: techniques, logistics; emergency medical services; Emergency Medical Services - organization & administration; emergency medicine; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Intensive care medicine; Intensive care unit. Emergency transport systems. Emergency, hospital ward; international; Medical sciences; Models, Organizational; Needs Assessment; prehospital; Urbanization; emergency medical services; prehospital; international; emergency medicine; Human; Prehospital period; Organization; Developing countries; First emergency care; Emergency; International
• ISSN: 0736-4679; 2352-5029
• DOI: 10.1016/S0736-4679(99)00065-7

Many developing countries are experiencing a greater need for prehospital systems because of urbanization and changing population demographics, leading to greater death rates from trauma and cardiac illnesses. While emergency medical services (EMS) systems may take a variety of forms, they usually contain some system components similar to those found in the United States. In evaluating EMS abroad, it may be useful to compare the developing system type to one of five models of EMS delivery: hospital-based, municipal, private, volunteer, and complex. Using community-based services and available health providers can enable a developing system to function within a primary health network without overtaxing scarce resources. Developing such an approach can lead to creative and effective solutions for prehospital care in developing countries.