The indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of the emergency medical services during the first pandemic wave: A system-wide study of Tuscany Region, Italy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Utilization of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) declined during COVID-19 pandemic, but most of the studies analyzed components of the EMS system individually. The study aimed to evaluate the indirect impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of all the components of the EMS system of Tuscany Region (Italy) during the first pandemic wave.

Methods

Administrative data from the health care system of Tuscany were used. Changes in utilization for out-of-hospital emergency calls and emergency vehicle dispatched, emergency department (ED) visits, and patients being admitted from the ED to an inpatient hospital bed (hospitalizations from ED) during the first pandemic wave were analyzed in relation with corresponding periods of the previous two years. Percentage change

SUBMITTER: Lastrucci V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9249192 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature