Use of specialist paramedic dispatch in emergency ambulance control

Fell, Simon and Corrie, Ian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3488-9691 (2022) Use of specialist paramedic dispatch in emergency ambulance control. Journal of Paramedic Practice, 14 (4). pp. 154-160.

Preview

PDF - Accepted Version Available under License CC BY-NC Download (211kB) | Preview

Abstract

Optimising patient care through the delivery of specialist resource allocation at the point of injury improves patient outcomes. As identified by the NHS, high-quality call handling and dispatch of the right response, first time, is critical to these outcomes ( NHS, 2015 ).

Aim: This article presents an objective literature review and critical analysis of the evidence base concerning clinical dispatch. This study aims to highlight key differences between the triage and dispatch processes of specialist resources, to establish if the evidence supports the use of one model to manage these resources, and to ascertain best practice.

Method: A structured literature review was undertaken and thematic analysis was used to explore the findings of the literature, leading to the establishment of recommendations for best practice in this area.

Results: The literature discourages dispatching specialist teams based solely on computer-aided dispatch software codes, and recognises that specialist paramedic dispatchers have a better understanding of the clinical and ethical challenges of appropriately dispatching specialist, finite resources.

Conclusion: The literature supports the use of clinicians in dispatching specialist resources to best meet the needs of those patients who are critically ill or injured.

Item Type:	Article
Journal / Publication Title:	Journal of Paramedic Practice
Publisher:	Mark Allen Group
ISSN:	2041-9457
Departments:	Institute of Health > Centre for Excellence in Paramedic Practice
Depositing User:	Insight Administrator
SWORD Depositor:	Insight Administrator
Date Deposited:	26 Apr 2022 09:09
Last Modified:	08 Feb 2024 12:00
URI:	https://insight.cumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/6430

Downloads