999 calls to the ambulance service and subsequent transfers to the emergency department (ED) is placing strain on each service. Some patients conveyed by ambulance do not require the level of care provided in the ED and could have been left at home or referred elsewhere. However, paramedics can find it challenging to identify these patients accurately.
This project aims to develop a tool to support the decision-making of ambulance paramedics to help them decide the likely outcome of an ED transport. Initial analysis and modelling work will be undertaken using linked routine datasets to identify key factors determining a patient’s outcome from transport to hospital. This will assist in making a more appropriate decision to convey a patient and reduce the strain on emergency services.
Trial Registration. This study was retrospectively registered with the ISRCTN: 12121281 (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN12121281) Peer Review reports (https://diagnprognres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41512-021-00108-4/peer-review)