Time Indicators of Pre-hospital Emergency Services in Ardabil, 2020

Objective: Considering the importance of the role and function of emergency medical services(EMS) in a society’s health and the need for continuously evaluating its function, especially in indices affecting the process of giving service to the patients, the present study was done with the aim of was to determine the time indicators of  EMS in Ardabil. Materials &Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study. Out of all the calls recorded in EMS centers of  Ardabil in the first 6 months of 2020. 327 calls that had resulted in the patient being transferred to a hospital were randomly selected and the required data including time indices and time and demographic information were extracted from EMS forms that are filled by a medical emergency technician for each mission. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including mean, standard deviation, and one-way analysis of variance and chi-square test using SPSS 22 statistical software. Results: In terms of time indicators, average delay time(1.01 minutes), the response time(7.87 minutes), Scene time(13.81 minutes), Transport time (12.53 minutes)The sum of the three-time intervals(Transport time, response time, and Scene time) (35.15 minutes), and Round trip time(52.50). According to the Chi-square test, there was a significant relationship between the total of three distances(Transport time, response time and Scene time Transport time, and Round trip time with the geographical area of the emergency base. Conclusion: Pre-hospital emergency time indicators were at the desired level. Updating information systems, ambulances, medical equipment and holding training courses for personnel working in this system can be effective in improving time indicators.