Emergency medical service in rural mountain areas in Taiwan: A Nantou mountain areas based study

• Published in: Hong Kong journal of emergency medicine Vol. 21; no. 6; pp. 373 - 381
• Main Authors: Hung, Sc, Li, Yh, Chen, Mc, Lai, Sw, Sung, Fc, Liu, Ll, Chen, Yr, Lin, Kc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Data processing; Emergency medical services; Emergency medical technicians; Medical care; Rescue work; rural health service; Rural health services; rural population; time; Taiwan; rural health service; rural population; time; Rescue work
• ISSN: 1024-9079; 2309-5407
• DOI: 10.1177/102490791402100606

Background: This study explored the emergency medical service (EMS) in rural mountain areas in Taiwan to establish the public health policies in rural mountain areas. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Based on mission records available at 3 EMS branches in Ren-Ai and Sinyi townships of Nantou County, we evaluated dispatched status, patient characteristics, and pre-hospital emergency managements. Results: From January to June 2011, a total of 765 EMS were dispatched from these 3 mountain branches. Each dispatched EMS team was consisted of one official emergency medical technician (EMT) with EMT II certificate (100%), and one (88.0%) or two (11.2%) volunteers as EMT I personnel. Most of missions were conducted in the daytime and peaked during 10am to 12pm. Patients were characterised with more men and elderly and predominant with non-traumatic medical complains (55.0%). Approximately 38.7% EMS patients required the advanced life support. Of these 3 mountain EMS branches, the mean response time was 15.3+/-16.9 minutes, the mean management time on site was 6.1+/-6.9 minutes and the mean transport time was 38.0+/-15.9 minutes. The response time and transportation time of EMS in rural mountain areas were relatively longer than that in urban towns in Taiwan.Conclusions: The rural EMS is under the challenges of providing appropriate and adequate medical care. Each EMS team should be equipped with adequate emergency care facilities and well trained personnel.