• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.71-80
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics and appropriateness of the Korean-type severity classification by ambulance based on the medical records of 43,561 emergency patients who were brought to the emergency medical center via ambulance between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2017. Methods: This study analyzed the classification characteristics of the Korean severity classification tool by applying them to emergency patients who visited the emergency medical center. Results: As a result of the study first, among the categories of home hospitals according to the results of visits, "other," "low consciousness," and "dyspnea" in the order of 129 ambulances were statistically significantly higher. In the order of "low consciousness" and "trauma," the "trauma" category was 5.3% higher than that of 129 ambulances. Conclusion: Among the classification items, "others," "low consciousness," and "dyspnea" were significantly higher in the group of patients who boarded 129 ambulances, and "others," "low consciousness," and "traumatic" were significantly higher in the 119 ambulances.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.159-175
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to obtain, categorize, and analyze baseline data regarding the subjective perception of ambulances from the consumers' perspective, which can be utilized for improving emergency medical service systems. Methods: Fifty people aged 20 to 40 years old were selected as P samples. Data from 35 statements of Q-cards and Q-sample distribution plots were gathered using Q-sort and analyzed using the PC-QUANL program for major factor analysis. Results: We found four unique characteristics which accounted for 57.57% of the total variation: "Considerate of emergency situations," "Identifying emergency patients," "Trusting emergency vehicles," and "Sympathizing with emergency patients." Conclusion: Organizations that provide emergency medical services using ambulances should plan and render patient care according to the four types of public perception of ambulances.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.138-147
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• 2016

As services for citizens' security and protection offered at the national and social levels become more widely recognized across society, the more frequent use of ambulances by patients with both minor and major injuries is being observed. However, the number of safety accidents during transport by ambulances, which are responsible for the prompt transport of patients, has been rising in tandem with the increase in their use. This is due not only to their inconspicuousness both on the road and in other environments where these vehicles are exposed, but also to the high chance of secondary accidents, putting the lives of both patients and emergency responders at risk. It is important to study and develop designs that guarantee protection against safety accidents, noting that ambulances are completely exposed and unprotected on the road on cloudy days and at night-time. In addition, by identifying colors and design motives that enhance the conspicuity of ambulances from a distance and increase their security, emergency responders and patients can be safely protected, the identity of the ambulances can be reinforced and modernized, and the sense oppression which can be visually imposed on patients in a psychologically unstable condition can be eased. Against this backdrop, this study presents the process involved in deriving the exteriors of ambulances in Korea, including their colors and patterns, by examining the established global best practices and identifying the need for more studies into colors, even unconventional ones, that improve their safety.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.172-179
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• 2014

This research suggests that the regulation, design and improvement of domestic and international ambulances so that make the basis for the future ambulance in Korea. It is true that the diversification of current disasters, increasing elderly population, the increase in emergency patients, due to the lack of effective transfer system, emergency vehicle's performance problem, and the aging of ambulances cause have difficulty in providing effective emergency services in domestic country. Therefore, in order to improve the effectiveness of ambulance, the history of ambulance, other relevant provisions include international, design and directions to be improved were investigated, and also research directions of the ambulance are suggested in domestic country. In this research, suggests the following conclusions to improve domestic ambulance 1. Through standardization of the spacing and location of an ambulance is needed to maximize the treatment room. 2. The interior of the ambulance design for hygiene and infection control should be included. 3. Stretcher and equipment are designed to be fitted to each other should be standardized. 4. Especially during transfer maintain the road, noise, vibration, and shock-absorbing function to emphasize the importance. 5. The improvement of ergonomic design is necessary for the possibility of applying to many people.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.151-166
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• 2022

Purpose: The severity classification in association with the time of visit to and the appropriateness of using a public ambulance for visiting the emergency department (ED) have not been thoroughly evaluated, and we aimed to evaluate these aspects. Methods: In this descriptive research, we retrospectively reviewed and analyzed the medical records of patients who visited the ED of the B General Hospital, Seoul from January to December 2019. Results: Of the 54,297 patients who were included in the analysis, 34,629 (63.8%) and 14,065 (25.9%) visited the ED directly and through public ambulances, respectively; 10,328 (73.4%) patients who used public ambulances were discharged home. In the daytime and nighttime, 24,891 (45.8%) and 29,406 (54.2%), respectively, visited the ED. The mean length of ED stay (LoS) of emergency and non-emergency patients was 326 and 159 minutes, respectively, and of patients classified as Korean Triage and Acuity Scale levels 1 and 2 was 427 and 430 minutes, respectively, which was longer than the total of 236 minutes. Conclusion: Patients who visited the ED using public ambulances constituted nearly 25% of all ED visits, and more than 70% of these patients were discharged home. Patients with high severity had a longer mean LoS, and daytime ED visits were characterized by higher numbers and severity of patients than nighttime ED visits.

• Journal of the Korean Operations Research and Management Science Society
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.197-209
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• 2012

This paper studies an emergency service vehicle location problem, where minimum reliability level pre-specified at each demand point is assured. Several models are suggested depending on the busy fraction, which is the time proportion of unavailability for the ambulances. In this paper a new model on computing the busy fraction is suggested, where it varies depending on the distance between the demand point and ambulances, hence it may respond the more realistic situation. The busy fraction for the ambulance location determined by the optimization model is computed by the simulation, and updated through the iterative procedure. It has been shown that the performances of the solutions obtained by the algorithm suggested for the instances appeared in the literature.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.87-99
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to provide basic data for the improvement of the standards related to the performance improvement of the firefighting equipment standards for special ambulances. Methods: Among the domestic firefighting equipment standards, the special ambulance standard was compared with the NFPA 1917 standard for the United States automobile ambulance 2019 and European Union European standard EN 1789 medical vehicle and its equipment, a road ambulance. Results: Anti-skid performance based on indoor noise standards, performance standards for interior lights, seat belt warning device, child car seat fixing device, safety handle, auxiliary footrest, and flooring materials should be supplemented. Conclusion: It is necessary to strengthen the production and performance standards for improvement to a level corresponding to the national standards, such as the United States and European Union.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2017

This study examined the soundness, vibration, and size of ambulances currently used in Korea as well as the comfort and convenience of ambulancesin Korea. The target vehicles were measured and investigated using the currently used freight type, van type, and Benz ambulance. Currently, the ambulance standards in Korea have only formal production standards, and there is no regulation on safety for ambulances, space regulation for first aid, comfort, and convenience. Therefore, comparative experiments on the comfort and convenience were measured using noise and vibration measurement experiments, and research was conducted on the size and interior rearrangement of ambulances to investigate the areas that can improve the comfort and convenience. The noise measurementsshowed that the noise was large in the order of the van type, Benz type, and freight type. In the case of a speed of 40 km/h or more, the noise measurement result was 60 to 70 dB or more. In the case of vibration, the Benz type and van type ambulance were good, and the vibration of the freight type showed the worst result, highlighting the need for improvement. Lastly, it is not possible to increase the internal size of the structure of domestic ambulance. On the other hand, it is important that through ambulance relocation and the position of first aid personnel, it will be possible to use it more comfortably and conveniently.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2020

Purpose: We analyzed the characteristics and differences in patients' medical benefits and health insurance based on disease severity classification. Methods: We examined 29,139 patients who visited the emergency medical center of K Hospital from January 1,2016 to December 31, 2016. Survey items included the Korean Triage and Acuity Scale (KTAS) classification of emergency and non-emergency situations ratio and type of insurance. Results: According to KTAS classification, 76.2% of patients exhibited an emergency condition and 23.8% exhibited a non-emergency condition. Emergency patients exhibited more trauma than non-emergency patients. According to the type of insurance coverage, the duration of stay in the emergency room was longer for patients with medical care than for patients with health insurance. Additionally, 119 ambulances use was significantly higher among patients with medical care. Conclusion: Policy discussions should address alternative ways to replace the 119 ambulances used by patients in this study. Additionally, health care administrators should identify alternative care agencies as potential alternatives to emergency room visits.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.123-134
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the number of patients with and without medical history transported to the emergency department due to changes in daily temperature and season. Methods: Data on emergency activity sheet and daily weather were collected from March 2016 to February 2017 in the city of Gyeonggi-do. In total, 13,531 patients were transferred to the emergency department in 119 ambulance. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 21). Results: The daily average number of patients transferred was the highest in August and September, i.e., the summer season. The higher the daily highest and lowest temperatures, higher the daily average number of patients transferred. In contrast, patients with medical history of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and pulmonary disease had a higher incidence of transfers in the winter season and on days with lower temperature. Conclusion: The results indicate that as people become more active during the summer when temperatures are high, the chances of daily emergencies increases, whereas patients with medical history are more likely to experience emergencies when the temperatures were lower. Hence, 119 ambulances will have to be prepared in advance to deal with this trend.