Tracing frequent users of regional care services using emergency medical services data: a networked approach.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

This study shows how a networked approach relying on 'real-world' emergency medical services (EMS) records might contribute to tracing frequent users of care services on a regional scale. Their tracing is considered of importance for policy-makers and clinicians, since they represent a considerable workload and use of scarce resources. While existing approaches for data collection on frequent users tend to limit scope to individual or associated care providers, the proposed approach exploits the role of EMS as the network's 'ferryman' overseeing and recording patient calls made to an entire network of care providers.

Design

A retrospective study was performed analysing 2012-2017 EMS calls in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands. Using EMS data, benefits of the

SUBMITTER: Maruster L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7259845 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature