OBJECTIVES-To evaluate the proportion of EMS requests in a rural community made by unique, non-institutionalized, older adults, or individuals making their first request of EMS services during the study period, and the impact on research parameters. . The Geneseo Fire Department Ambulance response territory is a rural community in Upstate New York. We obtained demographic information including age, race, gender, call location, and the frequency of EMS use from the medical record, as well as clinical information including level of prehospital care, chief complaint, and disposition. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis, along with 95% confidence intervals.
METHODS-ThisRESULTS-Over two 16-month periods, approximately 70% of the EMS calls by community dwelling (non-institutionalized) older adults were from unique individuals. The monthly proportion ranged from between 75-100% during the first four months to between 43-80% for the remaining 12 months for both groups.CONCLUSION-In rural, prehospital studies that enroll older adults and last more than four months, approximately 70% of EMS requests are made by unique older adults, or individuals making their first request of EMS services. Investigators must consider these results when estimating the enrollment period for prehospital studies.