Ambulance stretcher adverse events

Abstract

Adverse events may occur during ambulance stretcher operation and can result in significant injury to patients and ambulance personnel.

EMS Providers’ Perceptions of Safety Climate and Adherence to Safe Work Practices

“…The authors recognize that there are other occupational risks that the EMS provider must face, such as motor vehicle collisions, or musculoskeletal injuries from patient handling. 29,30 Although these are important adverse events in EMS, we focused on blood-borne and needlestick events.…”

Deaths following prehospital safety incidents: an analysis of a national database

“…Authors have described the risks associated with ambulance accidents, both to patients and staff6–8 and, in some cases, attempted to quantify the harm caused by these risks 9 10. Other studies have examined safety incidents arising during the care provided by the ambulance service including decision-making,11 12 patient treatment,13 communication,14 and equipment and resource availability 15. These studies have tended to focus on one specific source of risk or one aspect of an ambulance service's work, for example, the risks of prehospital endotracheal intubation16 or the risks encountered in non-conveyance of patients 17.…”

Measuring Adverse Events in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services: Establishing Content Validity

“…Common AEs in EMS include patient injury from a stretcher drop, morbidity or mortality due to an improperly managed airway, missed diagnosis, or negative effects following a medication error. 3–5 EMS providers may admit to near misses, errors, and AEs, but they underreport them, often out of fear of punishment or retaliation. 6 Under reporting can lessen creation of a safety culture; lack of a strong safety culture is common among many EMS organizations and a precursor to frequent AEs, error, and safety compromising behavior.…”