ผลกระทบของสถานการณ์การแพร่ระบาดของโควิด-19 ต่อระยะเวลาการออกปฏิบัติการการแพทย์ฉุกเฉิน โรงพยาบาลมหาราชนครเชียงใหม่

Sunisa Taja; Parinya Tianwibool; Krongkarn Sutham; Wachira Wongtanasarasin; Rudklao Sairai; Weerapont Kaewpaengchan; Jaroon Netasit

Authors

Sunisa Taja Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Parinya Tianwibool Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Krongkarn Sutham Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Wachira Wongtanasarasin Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Rudklao Sairai Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University
Weerapont Kaewpaengchan Emergency Medical Service and Referral Center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital
Jaroon Netasit Emergency Medical Service and Referral Center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital

Keywords:

emergency medical service,, COVID-19 pandemic,, operational time of EMS

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the prehospital care system for sick or injured patients in Thailand.

Objective: to assess how the pandemic influenced operation times within the emergency medical service (EMS) system at Maharaj Nakorn Chiangmai Hospital.

Methodology: a retrospective study, analyzing emergency response records from April to September in 2022 to 2024, comparing EMS operations before and during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Study Results: Prehospital care provision during the pre-pandemic, the initial outbreak, and the outbreak periods, there were 270, 255, and 353 EMS cases, respectively. In the case of emergency dispatch triage patients (red code), there was a substantial increase in the proportion of cases assigned to this group during these periods (40.4%, 62.4%, and 66.6%, respectively). The EMS operation times exhibited statistically significant increases, with increments of 71, 87, and 167.5 seconds for turnout time (p < 0.001); 6, 7, and 9 minutes for response time (p < 0.001); and 5, 5, and 6 minutes for back time (p = 0.004), respectively. Nevertheless, no significant differences were detected in scene time across the three phases.

Conclusion: the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected operation times in the EMS system. Ensuring the readiness of response teams and implementing regulation on prehospital procedures as necessary would effectively reduce response times and enhance prehospital patient care.

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