Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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Is the Clinical Safety Chart clinical improvement programme (CIP) effective at improving paramedic key performance indicator (KPI) results within the Ambulance Service of New South Wales? ⋯ The strategies used within this CIP are recommended for further consideration.
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Most patients involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are not seriously injured. However, dispatch protocols require an ambulance be sent with lights and sirens (L&S) to the vast majority of MVCs. L&S have been shown to reduce response times minimally. The rate of injuries among prehospital workers is nearly 15 times higher among ambulances operating with L&S than those without. ⋯ A simple three-step dispatch rule for MVCs can safely reduce L&S responses by one-third, as judged by need for transport to a trauma centre or use of trauma centre resources. Prospective validation is needed.