Patients refusing transportation is common EMS practice with potentially fatal outcomes. Determining which patients are at high risk for poor outcomes is poorly defined. This study described patients who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) within 24 hours of refusing transportation.

This is a retrospective, descriptive study of patients who had an OHCA within 24 hours of refusing EMS transportation between 2019 to 2021. Data was obtained from a large, urban medical control authority seeing 175,000 EMS calls annually. We reviewed patient demographics, EMS events when transportation was refused, and cardiac arrest outcome.

There were 6, 30, and 28 EMS refusals resulting in OHCA in 2019, 2020, and 2021. Patients who had OHCA were 65.7 (range 28-103) years old, and African American (54/64). Patients had HTN (36/64), diabetes (19/64), COPD (11/64), and CHF (7/64). Common complaints included breathing problems (17/64), near syncope (8/64) however chest pain was uncommon (4/64). One (28/64) or two (13/64) abnormal vital signs were present and missing vital signs (28/64) were common. Tachycardia (32.8%, 21/64), HTN (29.7%, 19/64), and hypotension (17.2%, 11/64) were more prevalent in the OHCA population compared to all refusal patients (Tachycardia 0.33% [1,978/598,416], HTN 2.27% [13,601/598,416], and hypotension 0.04% [218/598,416]). Patients were seen by both ALS (29/64) and BLS (35/64) providers. Most providers documented risk including death (38/64) though few contacted medical control (14/64). Return encounter for OHCA resulted in obvious deaths (23/64) or field termination (20/64). Few patients achieved ROSC (7/64).

Patients who had an OHCA within 24 hours of refusing transport had underlying comorbidities and abnormal or missing vital signs. The patients experienced tachycardia, hypertension, and hypotension at a higher rate than the overall refusal population. Few patients obtained ROSC. Further research is needed to determine methods to mitigate poor outcomes and decrease refusals.

Existing studies have identified the national rate of PVT for severely injured patients to be 9-16%, our ED has displayed a PVT incidence of 35.4%, suggesting a substantial difference in ED arrival. This study aims to explore descriptive demographics and injury characteristics of patients who arrived by PVT to our ED.

A prospective, single-center observational study conducted in Detroit, Michigan. Included patients aged 15 ≥ years who arrived at the ED by PVT for blunt or penetrating trauma. The sample population consisted of 128 patients from August 2019-April 2021. Each subject completed a survey regarding their injury and prehospital care. A retrospective chart review was conducted to acquire information on their injuries.

The mean age was 44.3 ± 20.3 years old, range 15-93. 51/128 female, 77/128 male. Patients comprised 93/128 African American, 19/128 Caucasian, 4/128 Asian, 4/128 Hispanic/Latino, and 8/128 other. The most common insurance was Medicaid, comprising 63/128 patients, 25/128 of patients had Medicare and 38/128 had private coverage. Utilizing ESI indices to evaluate severity levels, 73/128 arrived at the ED with an ESI level of 3, 47/128 level of 2, 5/128 level of 4, and 3/128 level of 1, the most severe. Majority of patients 36/128, presented with trauma-related injuries due to a fall. 25/128 presented with a laceration, and 22/128 presented after a motor vehicle crash. The upper extremities were the most common location of trauma 38/128 followed by the lower extremities 23/128. The mean ED length of stay was 11.18 hours.

Overall, the findings from this study allowed us to characterize our population of PVT trauma patients through their demographics and injury characteristics. We were able to establish some descriptive characteristics that delineate the population of patients at our ED in Detroit, which is the first step in identifying why trauma patients choose varying modes of transportation.

To compare the state of chemical hazard preparedness in emergency departments (EDs) in Michigan, USA between 2005 and 2012.

This was a longitudinal study involving a 30 question survey sent to ED directors at each hospital listed in the Michigan College of Emergency Physician (MCEP) Directory in 2005 and in 2012. The surveys contained questions relating to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive events with a focus on hazardous material capabilities.

One hundred twelve of 139 EDs responded to the 2005 survey compared to 99/136 in 2012. Ten of 27 responses were statistically significant, all favoring an enhancement in disaster preparedness in 2012 when compared to 2005. Questions with improvement included: EDs with employees participating in the Michigan voluntary registry; EDs with decontamination rooms; MARK 1 and cyanide kits available; those planning to use dry decontamination, powered air purifiers, surgical masks, chemical gloves, and surgical gowns; and those wishing for better coordination with local and regional resources. Forty-two percent of EDs in 2012 had greater than one-half of their staff trained in decontamination and 81% of respondents wished for more training opportunities in disaster preparedness. Eighty-four percent of respondents believed that they were more prepared in disaster preparedness in 2012 versus seven years prior.

Emergency departments in Michigan have made significant advances in chemical hazard preparedness between 2005 and 2012 based on survey responses. Despite these improvements, staff training in decontamination and hazardous material events remains a weakness among EDs in the state of Michigan.

BelskyJB , KlausnerHA , KarsonJ , DunneRB . Survey of Emergency Department Chemical Hazard Preparedness in Michigan, USA: A Seven Year Comparison. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(2):224–227.

The blackout in North America of August 2003 was one of the worst on record. It affected eight United States states and parts of Canada for >24 hours. Additionally, two large United States cities, Detroit, Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio, suffered from a loss of water pressure and a subsequent ban on the use of public supplies of potable water that lasted four days. A literature review revealed a paucity of literature that describes blackouts and how they may affect the medical community.

This paper includes a review of after-action reports from four inner-city, urban hospitals supplemented accounts from the authors' hospital's emergency operations center (emergency operations center).

Some of the problems encountered, included: (1)lighting; (2) elevator operations; (3) supplies of water; (4) communication operations; (5) computer failure; (6) lack of adequate supplies of food; (7) mobility to obtain Xray studies; (8) heating, air condition, and ventilation; (9) staffing; (10) pharmacy; (11) registration of patients; (12) hospital emergency operations center; (13) loss of isolation facilities; (14) inadequate supplies of paper; (15) impaired ability to provide care for non-emergency patients; (16) sanitation; and (17) inadequate emergency power.

The blackout of 2003 uncovered problems within the United States hospital system, ranging from staffing to generator coverage. This report is a review of the effects that the blackout and water ban of 2003 had on hospitals in a large inner-city area. Also discussed are solutions utilized at the time and recommendations for the future.

The blackout of 2003 was an excellent test of disaster/emergency planning, and produced many valuable lessons to be used in future events.