The Prevalence and Characteristics of Non-transported Patients in Nova Scotia

Abstract

Background: Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems provide patients with emergency care and transportation to a healthcare facility. Non-transport occurs, when a patient is not transported and represents an often undefined yet potentially significant risk for poor clinical outcomes. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of non-transport and potentially adverse non-transport and identify associated characteristics. Methods: A secondary analysis of pooled cross-sectional, population-based administrative data from the Nova Scotia EMS system in 2014 was conducted, using logistic regression. Results: Of 74,293 emergency responses, 18.9% (n=14,072) were non-transport and of those 5.6% (n=798) were potentially adverse. The characteristics statistically significantly and independently associated with both were: age, paramedic clinical impressions, number of co-morbidities, and incident location type. Conclusions: The results of this study provide timely information to policy makers and practitioners on the scope of non-transport, areas of concern and directions for future study.