BACKGROUND: There are great variations in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival outcomes among different countries and different emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The impact of different systems and their contribution to enhanced survival are poorly understood. This paper compares the EMS systems of several Asian sites making up the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) network. Some preliminary cardiac arrest outcomes are also reported. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey study addressing population demographics, service levels, provider characteristics, system operations, budget and finance, medical direction (leadership), and oversight. RESULTS: Most of the systems are single-tiered. Fire-based EMS systems are predominant. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur have hospital-based systems. Service level is relatively low, from basic to intermediate in most of the communities. Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Bangkok have intermediate emergency medical technician (EMT) service levels, while Taiwan and Dubai have paramedic service levels. Medical direction and oversight have not been systemically established, except in some communities. Systems are mostly dependent on public funding. We found variations in available resources in terms of ambulances and providers. The number of ambulances is 0.3 to 3.2 per 100,000 population, and most ambulances are basic life support (BLS) vehicles. The number of human resources ranges from 4.0 per 100,000 population in Singapore to 55.7 per 100,000 population in Taipei. Average response times vary between 5.1 minutes (Tainan) and 22.5 minutes (Kuala Lumpur). CONCLUSION: We found substantial variation in 11 communities across the PAROS EMS systems. This study will provide the foundation for understanding subsequent studies arising from the PAROS effort.
BACKGROUND: There are great variations in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival outcomes among different countries and different emergency medical services (EMS) systems. The impact of different systems and their contribution to enhanced survival are poorly understood. This paper compares the EMS systems of several Asian sites making up the Pan-Asian Resuscitation Outcomes Study (PAROS) network. Some preliminary cardiac arrest outcomes are also reported. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey study addressing population demographics, service levels, provider characteristics, system operations, budget and finance, medical direction (leadership), and oversight. RESULTS: Most of the systems are single-tiered. Fire-based EMS systems are predominant. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur have hospital-based systems. Service level is relatively low, from basic to intermediate in most of the communities. Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Bangkok have intermediate emergency medical technician (EMT) service levels, while Taiwan and Dubai have paramedic service levels. Medical direction and oversight have not been systemically established, except in some communities. Systems are mostly dependent on public funding. We found variations in available resources in terms of ambulances and providers. The number of ambulances is 0.3 to 3.2 per 100,000 population, and most ambulances are basic life support (BLS) vehicles. The number of human resources ranges from 4.0 per 100,000 population in Singapore to 55.7 per 100,000 population in Taipei. Average response times vary between 5.1 minutes (Tainan) and 22.5 minutes (Kuala Lumpur). CONCLUSION: We found substantial variation in 11 communities across the PAROS EMS systems. This study will provide the foundation for understanding subsequent studies arising from the PAROS effort.
Authors: Jen Heng Pek; Swee Han Lim; Hiu Fai Ho; T V Ramakrishnan; Sabariah Faizah Jamaluddin; Faith Joan C Mesa-Gaerlan; Mohan Tiru; Sung Oh Hwang; Wai-Mau Choi; Somchai Kanchanasut; Pairoj Khruekarnchana; Levent Avsarogullari; Takeshi Shimazu; Shingo Hori Journal: Acute Med Surg Date: 2015-08-27
Authors: Andrew Fu Wah Ho; Pin Pin Pek; Stephanie Fook-Chong; Ting Hway Wong; Yih Yng Ng; Aaron Sung Lung Wong; Marcus Eng Hock Ong Journal: World J Emerg Med Date: 2015
Authors: Nik Hisamuddin Rahman; Hideharu Tanaka; Sang Do Shin; Yih Yng Ng; Thammapad Piyasuwankul; Chih-Hao Lin; Marcus Eng Hock Ong Journal: Int J Emerg Med Date: 2015-04-23
Authors: Kegan Jianhong Lim; Zhi Xiong Koh; Yih Yng Ng; Stephanie Fook-Chong; Andrew Fu Wah Ho; Nausheen Edwin Doctor; Nur Ain Zafirah Mohd Said; Marcus Eng Hock Ong Journal: Singapore Med J Date: 2020-03-17 Impact factor: 1.858