An evaluation of program implementation strategies for a rural first-responder system

Abstract

An experimental emergency first-responder system was introduced in 36 small rural Georgia communities as a means for addressing inadequate access to emergency medical services for these communities. A prospective evaluation was designed to address the most efficient and effective means to organize, implement, and administrate such a program on a regional basis. Key to the program were community-selected residents who served as Emergency Medical Coordinators (EMCs) and performed as first responders, information sources on emergency care, and system organizers. The evaluation examined the process of organizing the program through local government versus voluntary group sponsors in terms of response and participation by communities and their ability to select effective EMCs. It assessed the effectiveness of a set of criteria for selecting residents as EMCs against three sets of performance measures encompassing first-responder skills and activities which maintained public awareness and program visibility. Critical to program success was the degree of sponsor involvement in selecting EMCs.

A review on initiatives for the management of daily medical emergencies prior to the arrival of emergency medical services

“…( 2020 ) and Hancock et al. ( 2020 ) 44 Volunteers Kay and Myrick ( 1982 ), Naths et al. ( 2007 ), Roberts et al.…”

New collaborations in daily emergency response

“…However, none of these studies have tried to monetize the costs and benefits. In an evaluation of an experimental emergency first-responder system introduced in 36 small rural Georgia communities it was concluded that volunteers reduced the response time from 20 minutes to an average of 4.4 minutes (Kay and Myrick, 1982). In Sun and Wallis (2012), community leaders in Cape Town South Africa were trained to educate citizens in first response to a number of frequently occurring incidents.…”