Skip to main content

Table 2 Event operational descriptors

From: Template for documenting and reporting data in physician-staffed pre-hospital services: a consensus-based update

Data variable numberMain data variable nameType of dataData variable categories or valuesData variable sub-categories or valuesTypeDefinition of data variableHow often should variable be reported
2. Event operational descriptors
2.1.Time pointsContinuous    For each mission
  2.1.1. Call received at EMCC hh:mmWhen the alarm call is answered at the initial EMCC 
  2.1.2. Time of system activation (dispatch time) hh:mmWhen EMCC dispatch p-EMS 
  2.1.3. Unit en route/take-off time hh:mmWhen vehicle starts to move (car or rotor wing/fixed wing) 
  2.1.4. Unit arrival on scene hh:mmWhen vehicle stops at a location as close as possible to the patient 
  2.1.5. Time of first physician contact with patient hh:mmWhen pre-hospital physician arrives at patient site 
  2.1.6. Time when patient leaves scene hh:mmWhen patient is transferred from the original location or time of death if dead on scene 
  2.1.7. Time when patient arrives at hospital (or alternative site if not delivered to hospital) hh:mmWhen the patient is formally transferred to receiving medical facility personnel 
2.2.Date of eventContinuous  dd.mm.yyyyThe date the unit was dispatchedFor each mission
2.3.Type of mission/dispatchCategorical  Check box For each mission
  2.3.1. Primary medical mission  Includes all primary missions other than trauma (medical, surgical, paediatric, obstetric) 
  2.3.2. Primary trauma mission  Includes all primary trauma missions 
  2.3.3. Inter-hospital transfer mission  Inter-hospital or inter-facility mission 
  2.3.4. SAR mission    
  2.3.5. Major incident response    
  2.3.6. Contingency    
  2.3.7. Rendezvous with ambulance    
  2.3.8. Consultation    
  2.3.9. Single patient  Only one patient treated by p-EMS during the mission 
  2.3.10. Multiple patients  More than one patient treated by p-EMS during the mission 
   2.3.11. Other    
2.4.Dispatch criteriaCategorical  Check boxMedical reason for dispatchFor each mission
  2.4.1. Medical    
  2.4.2. Trauma    
  2.4.3. Neurologic    
  2.4.4. Obstetric    
  2.4.5. Burn    
  2.4.6. Other    
2.5.Activation typeCategorical  Bullet list For each mission
  2.5.1. Primary mission    
   2.5.1.1. Initiated by dispatch centre   
   2.5.1.2. Requested dispatch from other units   
   2.5.1.3. Other   
 Categorical2.5.2. Inter-hospital transfer mission    
   2.5.2.1. Physician-staffed unit used because of level of treatment during transport   
   2.5.2.2. Physician-staffed unit used because of speed of transport   
   2.5.2.3. Both above   
   2.5.2.4. Other   
2.6.Mode of transportation to sceneCategorical  Bullet listMain type of vehicle used to get p-EMS to the sceneFor each mission
  2.6.1. Rapid response car  Regular car, no stretcher 
  2.6.2. Regular ambulance  Car with stretcher 
  2.6.3. Rotor Wing    
  2.6.4. Fixed Wing    
  2.6.5. Boat staffed with physician    
  2.6.6. Other    
2.7.Mode of transportation from sceneCategorical  Bullet listMain type of vehicle used to transport the patient to definitive careFor each mission
  2.7.1. Rapid response car    
  2.7.2. Regular ambulance staffed with physician  Physician is part of the ambulance crew on a regular basis 
  2.7.3. Regular ambulance with physician attending  Ambulance crew normally without a physician, physician is attending because of patient need 
  2.7.4. Patient transported in ambulance without physician    
  2.7.5. Rotor wing    
  2.7.6. Fixed wing    
  2.7.7. Boat staffed with physician    
  2.7.8. Patient not transported due to no indication    
  2.7.9. Patient not transported due to patient refusal    
  2.7.10. Patient dead and not transported    
  2.7.11. Other    
2.8.Result of dispatch   Bullet listDispatch means unit alarmed for mission or request/advice/supervisionFor each mission
 Categorical2.8.1. Patient attended  P-EMS attended the patient 
   2.8.1.1. Transported with physician escort   
   2.8.1.2. Transported without physician escort   
   2.8.1.3. Discharged on-scene Patient not transported 
   2.8.1.4. Pronounced dead on scene   
 Categorical2.8.2. Patient not attended  P-EMS did not attend the patient. The main reason why mission is aborted or refusedFor each mission
   2.8.2.1. Weather   
   2.8.2.2. Technical reasons   
   2.8.2.3. Other mission (concurrency)   
   2.8.2.4. Alternative tasking   
   2.8.2.5. Mission refused due to duty time limitations   
   2.8.2.6. Fatigue   
   2.8.2.7. Not needed   
   2.8.2.8. No time benefit   
   2.8.2.9. Patient has left scene (before arrival of unit)   
   2.8.2.10. Mission taken over by another p-EMS   
2.9.Trauma mechanismCategorical  Bullet listThe Utstein Trauma template. The mechanism (or external factor) that caused the injury eventFor each mission
  2.9.1. Not trauma    
  2.9.2. Blunt trauma    
   2.9.2.1. Traffic - motor vehicle injury Car, pickup, truck, van, heavy transport vehicle, bus 
   2.9.2.2. Traffic - motorbike   
   2.9.2.3. Traffic - bicycle   
   2.9.2.4. Traffic - pedestrian   
   2.9.2.5. Traffic - other Ship, airplane, railway train 
   2.9.2.6. Fall from same level Low energy fall. From the persons height or less 
   2.9.2.7. Fall from higher level High energy fall. From more than the persons height 
   2.9.2.8. Struck or hit by blunt object Tree, tree branch, bar, stone, human body part, metal, other 
   2.9.2.9. Explosives Blast injuries 
   2.9.2.10 Other   
   2.9.2.11. Unknown   
  2.9.3. Penetrating trauma    
   2.9.3.1. Stabbed by pointed or sharp object Knife, sword, dagger or other 
   2.9.3.2. Gun By handgun, shotgun, rifle, or another firearm of any dimension 
   2.9.3.3. Other   
  2.9.4. Unknown  Unknown trauma mechanism 
2.10.Specialty of the attending physicianCategorical  Check boxThe pre-hospital physician attending patient on sceneFor each mission
  2.10.1. Anaesthesiology    
  2.10.2. Emergency medicine    
  2.10.3. Intensive care    
  2.10.4. Surgery    
  2.10.5. Internal medicine    
  2.10.6. Other    
2.11.NACA scoreCategorical  Bullet listNACA 0–7For each mission
  2.11.1. NACA 0    
  2.11.2. NACA 1    
  2.11.3. NACA 2    
  2.11.4. NACA 3    
  2.11.5. NACA 4    
  2.11.6. NACA 5    
  2.11.7. NACA 6    
  2.11.8. NACA 7    
  2.11.9. NACA score unknown    
2.12.Where patient is deliveredCategorical  Bullet listWhere physician-staffed unit delivers patientFor each mission
  2.12.1. Major Trauma Centre/Definitive care centre  Hospital where all definitive treatment is available (to the particular patient) 
  2.12.2. Local hospital  Hospital where all definitive treatment is not available (to the particular patient) 
  2.12.3. Other health care facility  Facility not defined as hospital 
  1. EMCC Emergency medical communication centre, SAR Search and rescue, p-EMS physician-staffed emergency medical services, NACA score National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics score
Back to article page

Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine

ISSN: 1757-7241