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Table 1 Data collection of key outcome measures for solo emergency physician assistants (PA) and ambulance nurses (RN) or PA specific

From: Solo emergency care by a physician assistant versus an ambulance nurse: a cross-sectional document study

Data collection method

Key outcome measure (PA, RN)

Data processing protocol

Data extracted from predefined fields in the EPRa

Age categories (PA, RN)

Run date minus birth date

Gender (PA, RN): male, female

NPb

Level of urgency according to Dutch EMS triage standard (PA, RN): A1: ‘very urgent’ complaints needing arrival on scene within 15 min; A2: ‘urgent’ complaints needing arrival on scene within 30 min

NPb

Monitoring (PA, RN): Respiratory rate, Oxygen saturation, Systolic blood pressure, Diastolic blood pressure, Pulse rate, ECGc/heart rhythm, GCS/AVPUd, Glucose, Body temperature, Pain intensity score: ‘yes’, ‘no’

When vital sign measurement was registered in EPRa: variable was coded ‘yes’

Interventions described in the national EMS standard (PA, RN): Placement of intravenous drip, Supply of oxygen, Immobilisation: ‘yes’, ‘no’

When intervention was registered in EPRa: variable was coded ‘yes’

Administer medication according to EMS standard (PA, RN): ‘yes’, ‘no’

When medication, included in EMS standard, was registered in EPRa: variable was coded ‘yes’

Administer medication not in national EMS standard (PA): ‘yes’, ‘no’

When medication, not included in EMS standard, was registered in EPRa: variable was coded ‘yes’

Referral after EMS treatment (PA, RN): ‘yes’, ‘no’

NPb

Type of healthcare organisation referred to (PA, RN): General Practitioner, Emergency Department

NPb

Treatment time on scene (minutes) (PA, RN)

Time of departure minus time of arrival

Follow up contact after prehospital EMS care within 72 h and within 24 h (PA, RN): ‘yes’, ‘no’

Identification of registered additional call to dispatch centre within 72 h and within 24 h after time of departure from scene

Data based on free text notes

Initial complaints or conditions (PA, RN): trauma, non trauma, deceased

Free text notes were identified and categorized according to these conditions

SCEBSe methodology used (PA): ‘yes’, ‘no’

When free text notes were ordered according to SCEBSe methodology: variable was coded ‘yes’

Systematic physical exams of organ tract systems (PA): ‘tractus pulmonalis’, ‘circularis’, ‘abdominalis’, ‘neurology’, ‘extremities’, ‘gynaecology’, ‘urogenitalis’, ‘ear-nose-throat’ Systematic physical exams of organ tract systems (PA): ‘yes’, ‘no’

Free text notes were identified and categorized according to these tracti; When one or more tracti were identified: variable was coded ‘yes’

Interventions not described in the national EMS standard (PA): Suture, Medical advice to patient: ‘yes’, ‘no’

When intervention was identified in the free text notes: variable was coded ‘yes

Interventions not described in the national EMS standard (PA): Consultation of health care professional regarding referral: ‘consultation of General Practitioner’, ‘consultation of Emergency Department’, ‘consultation of other health care professional’, ‘no consultation’

Free text notes were identified and categorized according to these type of health care professionals

  1. a EPR electronic patient records, b NP no additional processing needed, c ECG electrocardiograph, d GCS/AVPU Glasgow Coma Scale/Alert Voice Pain Unresponsive, e SCEBS Somatic complaints, Cognitions, Emotions, Behaviour, and Social functioning of the patient