Asthma, COPD
Conditions
Keywords
Asthma, COPD, emergency medical service, teleconsultation, telemedicine
Brief summary
The aim of the study is to investigate the quality of prehospital emergency care in acute respiratory emergencies, when paramedics are supported telemedically by an EMS physician.
Detailed description
Six ambulances from five different Emergency Medical Service (EMS) districts are equipped with a portable telemedicine system. In cases of acute obstructive, respiratory emergencies the paramedics can use this system to contact a so called tele-EMS physician after consent of the patient was obtained. The tele-EMS physician has an audio-connection to the EMS team and receives vital parameters (e.g., ECG, pulse oximetry, non-invasive blood pressure) in real-time. The transmission of still pictures (taken with a smartphone), 12-lead-ECGs and video streaming from the inside of the ambulance can also be carried out, if indicated. The tele-EMS physician supports the EMS team in obtaining all relevant medical history, diagnosis and can delegate the application of medications. This can be carried out to bridge the time to the arrival of an EMS physician or in less severe cases without an EMS physician on-scene. The quality of prehospital care and the possible influences on the initial inhospital phase should be investigated and compared with regular EMS.
Interventions
DEVICETeleconsultation
Teleconsultation for the EMS in acute respiratory emergencies
Sponsors
RWTH Aachen University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Obstructive, respiratory emergency * Verbal consent for teleconsultation obtained or patient is not able to consent due the severity of the emergency
Exclusion criteria
* No respiratory emergency * Refused consent for teleconsultation
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen Saturation | average 1 hour | Measurement of pulse oximetric oxygen saturation at the timepoint of first contact with a physician (EMS physician OR hospital arrival) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Quality of emergency care | average 1 hour | Analysis of the quality of prehospital care on the basis of published guidelines for asthma / COPD. |
| Rate of ventilation | average 1 hour | Fraction of patients that receive invasive or non-invasive ventilation during the prehospital phase |
| Rate of complications | 2 hours | Rate of complications due to medications: allergic reaction, heart rhythm problems |
Countries
Germany
Outcome results
None listed