Canadian EMS Research Updates
Blair Bigham, Ian Blanchard, Jan Jensen
Update on the Canadian National EMS Research Agenda
November 2011
The Canadian National EMS Research Agenda is a nation-wide research study, with the objective of setting a comprehensive research agenda for the future of Canadian EMS research, by identifying existing barriers, strengths and opportunities for EMS research, to make recommendations for the future, and to set EMS research priorities. The EMS Research Agenda is a project of the EMS Chiefs of Canada, and has received generous support from the Paramedic Association of Canada, the Calgary EMS Foundation, the Nova Scotia Research Foundation, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian Police Research Centre.
This project is in the final stage of data collection. Participants are currently working on an online Delphi consensus survey. A poster of the results of the qualitative interviews will be presented at the National Association of EMS Physicians conference in January 2012 in Arizona. A paper describing the project methods will be published in BMC Emergency Medicine.
Stay tuned in 2012 for results from this exciting project. For more information on the Canadian National EMS Research Agenda, see: www.emscc.ca/nra
Paper on the future of national evidence-informed practice guidelines published
November 2011
In October 2009, EMS continuous quality improvement leaders from across the country convened in Ottawa. This group worked through the process of developing evidence-informed guidelines, and brainstormed what would be required for a national set to be created and maintained. The results of the workshop have been published in the August issue of HealthCare Policy (7(1): 22-31.
Two paramedic-led projects continue in Ontario
November 2011
The Ontario Paramedic Research Consortium (OPRC) has sponsored two paramedic driven projects. The first project involves the communication of unexpected news that is being lead by Paramedic LeeAnne Douglas with Toronto EMS. Douglas is conducting research that is exploring paramedic experiences and training in communicating bad news in the field. This places a significant amount of stress on the paramedic conveying this information to grieving family members. A needs assessment and pilot survey has been completed. The second research project that received funding is being lead by Deputy Chief Michel Ruest from Renfrew Paramedic Service. Ruest is proposing a retrospective analysis on the community paramedic programs initiated within Renfrew County to determine which specific programs helped the overall system deliver optimal patient care.
Dalhousie Division of EMS offers research bursaries
November 2011
The Dalhousie Division of EMS has released three research bursaries targeted to support EMS research in Atlantic Canada. Two Performance Research Bursaries of $5,000 each will be granted per year, to support the costs of conducting an EMS study. Two Knowledge Translation Bursaries of a max of $3,000 each will be awarded to support dissemination of completed EMS studies. The EMS Research Postgraduate Education Bursary is for $5,000 for a paramedic to enroll in a Masters or PhD program with a focus on EMS research. Check out: www.emergency.medicine.dal.ca/DIVEMSBursary.cfm for more information.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) EMS update
November 2011
The AHS EMS Research Committee is tasked with reviewing, coordinating, and promoting EMS research in Alberta. This 20-member committee is made up of practitioners, managers, and medical directors from geographically diverse parts of the province. Presently AHS EMS has fourteen research studies approved and in various stages of completion. If you are interested in conducting research with AHS EMS, please contact the Chair of the AHS EMS Research Committee at: ian.blanchard@albertahealthservices.ca.
Patient Safety in EMS Niagara Summit published in CJEM
April 2011
Blair Bigham and his team have published the results of their seminal work on Patient Safety in EMS in the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine. Experts from various aspects of EMS gathered in Niagara Falls in June 2009 to discuss patient safety in our industry, and to set strategic directions for the future. Check out the January-February issue of CJEM, and also look to the Canadian Patient Safety Institute website for more information (www.patientsafetyinstitute.ca). This study was funded by CPSI, the EMS Chiefs of Canada and the Calgary EMS Foundation.
New evidence: Incidence of VF and pulseless VT lower in
patients who collapse at home vs. in public
April 2011
Researchers with the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium (ROC) have recently published a prospective cohort study of 12,930 cardiac arrest patients in the New England Journal of Medicine. They compared the incidence of a shockable rhythm and survival to hospital discharge in patients who arrested at home compared to in the public. The investigators found the odds of VF/pulseless VT was 2.28 times more likely in public than at home (95% confidence interval: 1.96 – 2.66), and the odds of surviving was 2.49 times higher for those in public than at home (95% CI: 1.03 – 5.99). These results will have important implications for improving initiatives for treating shockable cardiac arrest rhythms, such as strategic placement of AEDs.
Evidence synthesis: Community paramedicine systematic
review released
April 2011
York Region EMS in Ontario recently commissioned a systematic review of the published literature on community paramedicine. This report, authored by Blair Bigham, Dr. Laurie Morrison and their team, is a synthesis of all the available research on extended scope paramedic programs from Canada, the UK, Australia and other locations around the world. The document, a great resource for any paramedics who want to learn more or decision makers putting such a program together, is available on the York website: www.york.ca – type emergency medical services in the search box and take a look for the report.
This regional EMS Research Day ended with presentation of two awards: The Top EMS Research Project Award was awarded to Dr. David Petrie. The Dr. Ron Stewart Award for Top Research Led by a Paramedic was awarded to two paramedics (it was a tie!): Judah Goldstein and Jan Jensen.
Thanks to all who attended EMS Research Day, and to the sponsors: Medavie EMS, Canadian Emergency News and Emergency Health Services. For more information, go to: http://emergency.medicine.dal.ca/DIVEMSAnnouncements.cfm.
Looking for updates
If you are involved in EMS research, please e-mail us your updates on upcoming, ongoing or recently completed studies, research education opportunities or announcements. E-mail: jan.jensen@emci.ca, ian.blanchard@albertahealthservices.ca, bighamb@smh.ca
