Physician Engagement in EMS Transport Refusal Rates

Wake Forest University (WFU)

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Refusal of Transport

Treatments: Behavioral: Standard of Care; Behavioral: Physician Consultation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07107737

IRB00134848

Details and patient eligibility

About

The primary goal of this study is to find out if patients who speak with an EMS physician over the phone are less likely to refuse care compare to patients who do not speak with an EMS physician.

Full description

This study aims to assess the impact of direct physician communication on patients' decisions to refuse EMS transport. The research approach is designed to measure the influence of physician interaction on patient transport decisions in a prospective model. By conducting this research, the study team hopes to provide evidence-based recommendations for EMS protocols regarding patient engagement and refusal management.

Enrollment: 250 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult patients ≥18 years old in care of Mecklenburg EMS (MEDIC) on an emergency basis (911 call) who wish to refuse transportation to the hospital in whom MEDIC has, via existing processes and decision-making, engaged online medical control EMS Physicians for further guidance

Exclusion criteria

• Patients <18 years old.
• Patient refuses to speak with online medical control EMS Physicians. MEDIC or patient requests to have primary care physician.
• Lack of clinical capacity.
• Incarcerated population.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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250 participants in 2 patient groups

Physician Consultation

Experimental group

Description:

Mecklenburg EMS agency (MEDIC) crew chiefs (EMTs and/or paramedics) may decide, based on patient circumstances, to consult OMC for patients wishing to refuse care.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Physician Consultation

Standard of Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

Refusal-of-care consultation not provided to patient

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard of Care