• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.189-200
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• 2021

Purpose: We aimed to provide effective emergency medical services (EMS) response strategies for coping with high acuity patients during the pandemic by analyzing the influence of the COVID-19 and social distancing on EMS. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analyzed the distribution of high acuity patients transported by Daejeon 1-1-9 EMS during the COVID-19 pandemic period, between February 1, 2020 and October 31, 2020 and the same period in 2019, as well as the level 3 social distancing enforced period, between July 27, 2020 and October 31, 2020. Results: The EMS dispatches decreased by 17% during the observed COVID-19 pandemic period compared to the same period in 2019. The number of cases with cardiac arrest and positive prehospital stroke scale rose by (p<.001). Patients with cardiac arrest, trauma, and positive prehospital stroke scale increased by during the level 3 social distancing period. Conclusion: Unlike the decreased EMS call volume and patient transports during the COVID-19 pandemic, cardiac arrest cases and the severity of high acuity patients tended to increase. We suggest that EMS systems should contrive a response strategy considering the collateral effect of major epidemics on the incidence rate of high acuity patients.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.87-101
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• 2007

Health and disease related characteristics of 226 selected by systematic sampling from 452 personal emergency response system(PERS) beneficiaries and actual conditions of using PERS by them are as follows. Over 86% of PERS beneficiaries have not good health conditions and 70.7% of them have chronic diseases. On social supports family was highest as 52.2% and cases having social workers' assistance were 15.2%, but 53 as 23.7% had not visit or call from anyone and showed very low social supports. 86.2% was given PERS within 3years and 79.1% had it by the recommendation from related agencies and 4.0% was by their demand. On wearing it, 78.3% didn't bring it with them and 92% of them answered they were not sick and then it was found that they didn't use it because they had not special emergency. On satisfaction with paging system's operation, 81.3% answered they were satisfied with it, 48.8% used it for 'acute and emergency diseases' and 29.3% called ambulance for 'appointed medical treatment'. Time required for ambulance to arrive at the field was within 10 min. in 87.8% and after 10 min. in 12.2% and emergency service for beneficiaries by fire service was very good. On satisfaction with use of PERS, 85.4% were satisfied with it, 81.9% who requested repair or replacement of radio paging got it back after one or two days of their request and they answered they were satisfied with A/S. 45.5% answered they powered off it because 'they didn't use it' and 12.1% had 'economical reason of phone charge'.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.99-104
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• 2008

As a part of improving early response system for senior emergency patients in rural areas in preparation for accelerated transition of Korea into aged society, this study seeks to make effective use of town broadcasting equipments and improve conventional educational ways for the first aid for senior people to boost up availability of private rescue personnel, so that it can contribute to improving capacity to early response to potential occurrence of emergency situations. In addition, this study focuses on profiling current activities of 119 geriatric Emergency Medical Services available in Korea, and also exploring possible ways to improve emergency services for senior safety which can play useful roles of social safeguard in imminent aged society as well as efficient ways to build up infrastructure for senior safety on the basis of opening up senior safety center.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.87-96
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• 2022

Purpose: By analyzing the health status of emergency patients on islands in the Jeollanam-do province, this study aims to provide basic data for proposed future medical emergency services on the islands. This information includes monthly and hourly statistics on patients' characteristics, patient frequency, an analysis of first aid procedures, response times, and time spent at hospitals. Methods: The study analyzed the monthly and hourly frequency of emergency patients, first aid status and procedures, general patient characteristics, accident types, patient cognitive status and agility, marine police response times, and frequency and percentile of hospital dispatch times. Results: 1Q and #q show the highest patient turnover rate in one year. 50.5% of daily patients are admitted between 4 PM and 12 PM. The hospital dispatch time is within a one- to two-hour window for 54.0% of all patients. Conclusion: The emergency medical service system for the Jeollanam-do province islands and seas is available to all Korean residents, citizens, and visitors. It is necessary to implement an emergency medical system for the relevant organizations.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.17-25
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• 2019

Purpose: Despite the fact that the needs for disaster emergency medical facilities to minimize casualties are increasing, research for emergency medical facilities is insufficient compared to research for DMAT investment. A management strategy for emergency medical facilities in disaster site needs to be proposed. Methods: Recently there was introduction of mobile hospital system using unit modular method, but it was found out to be used only in disaster emergency training. Emergency medical facilities in disaster site require various tasks. Examination for our research was carried out through consultations with emergency medical and mobile hospital expert because there is no practical use case to apply Emergency Medical Facilities in Korea. Result: In this research we proposed a management strategy to manage and operate emergency medical facilities composed of tent, unit module and container in the aspects of management efficiency. Implications: It is highly expected to establish a foundation for fast and accurate disaster emergency medical facilities deployment by applying the results of our research to Emergency response manual of disaster emergency medical service.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.77-95
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the counseling status of overseas Koreans using emergency medical counseling services, identify frequently occurring types of diseases, explore approaches to emergency treatment guidance, and protect overseas Koreans from medical blind spots, thereby enhancing the quality of emergency medical counseling services. Methods: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Kongju National University (KNU_IRB_2023-31), and data were collected and analyzed from 10,951 cases of emergency medical counseling services utilized by overseas Koreans from the National Fire Agency from 2018 to 2022. Results: Emergency medical consultation services for overseas Koreans included a majority of non-trauma patients, with medical consultations being predominant. Terrestrial patients commonly seek advice for internal medical symptoms, whereas maritime patients frequently present with trauma-related symptoms, with a higher incidence of cardiac arrest and altered consciousness cases at sea. The development of self-diagnostic tests based on internal medicine symptoms is necessary for terrestrial patients, whereas stakeholder education is required for maritime patients. Conclusion: Due to the different types of diseases occurring in terrestrial and maritime patients, emergency medical consultation services for overseas Koreans should be implemented according to the specific characteristics of each patient. Therefore, it is necessary to develop and disseminate response manuals that are tailored to medical and trauma-related symptoms.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2005

The purpose of this study which was done by 250 Prehospital Care Reports(PCRs) survey of some squads in Seoul Metropolitan Fire & Disaster Management Department was to improve prehospital emergency care by means of quality management. The data were collected in 3 squads from Jun. 21 to Jul. 18, 2004 and analyzed by using SPSS Win 12.0 Version. The conclusions from this study were summarized as follows. The mean time of Event to treatment interval was $4.6{\pm}4.3$ minutes and 49.2% arrived at patient within 4 minutes. Platinum minute was observed 61.1% of verbal response, 73.3% of painful response, 77.8% of unresponsive. The great majority of patients couldn't receive advanced life support on account of limited scope of practice and strict direct medical control in the Emergency Medical Services Act. Data from quality improvement activity will be useful to expand indirect medical control which is able to activate prehospital care. To utilize PCR for quality improvement. It has to have data elements, run data, patient data, check boxes, narrative including US DOT's minimum data set.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.177-187
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to investigate the causes of non-transport in 119 ambulance services and to describe the difference in response time according to the reason for non-transport. Methods: This study analyzed 42,415 non-transport cases out of 123,158 cases using prehospital care reports in a metropolitan city. The Kruskal-Wallis test and the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test were used to 6,857 cases for which time was recorded. Results: Non-transportation in 20${\bigcirc}{\bigcirc}$ comprised 33.1% of all ambulance services. The reason for non-transport were other reasons (25.5%), cancellation (23.8%), and moving to other vehicles (21.7%). There were differences in ambulance service times according to the reasons for non-transport. The activation interval was the longest (2.68 minutes) in the absence of the patient, and the response interval was the shortest (4.96 minutes) among the cancelled case. The total interval was the shortest time (21.97 minutes) in the cancellation cases and the longest time among the death cases (32.23 minutes). Conclusion: It is important to suggest the direction of development of emergency services by identifying the reasons for non-transport by ambulance services and describing the response time according to the reason for non-transport.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.23-33
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• 2018

Purpose: To investigate the perception of paramedic students about core competence and methods of disaster response. Methods: A self-reported questionnaire was completed by 210 paramedic students in Jeollado from March 2 to April 2, 2018. It comprised 57 questions on topics such as general characteristics (6), related experience (11), cognition of core competence (15), and knowledge of disaster response methods (25). Data were analyzed by means of a frequency analysis, a t-test, an ANOVA, and the Pearson's correlation coefficient using SPSS WIN 21.0. Results: The average score of the participants on disaster response core competence was 3.21. The statement "In case of a disaster, I know the duties of medical staff" scored the second highest, at 3.58, and "In the case of disaster, I can conduct the basic treatment" scored the highest ar 3.59. The average score for the disaster response methods was 3.31. Within the section, the statement "I know what I need to do in the case of burn patients" scored 3.59 and "I know what I need to do in the case of a cardiac arrest patient" scored the highest at 3.93. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop a training module considering the diverse types of disasters and a standardized education program for simulation similar to real-life situations.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.5-10
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• 2007

Purpose: It was to induce higher-level papers which can make Korea's Emergency Medical Service System better. Methods: This study was conducted by analysing of 250 papers published in the Journal of Korean Society of Emergency Medical Technology from 1997 to 2005. Results: Most of papers which dealt with non-clinic(94.4%), non-job description(76.8%), non-scope of practice(94.4%), other than AHA's recommendations such as response intervals and survival rates from cardiac arrest(90.4%) were written by professors(61.6%) and 1-2 authors(72.8%). Conclusion: It brought up some needs of enlargement of new members.