Ambulance Diversion Associated With Reduced Access To Cardiac Technology And Increased One-Year Mortality
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Authors
Shen, Yu-Chu
Hsia, Renee Y.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2015-08-01
Date
August 1, 2015
Publisher
Language
Abstract
Ambulance diversion, where emergency departments (ED) are temporarily closed to ambulance
traffic, is an important system-level interruption that causes delays in treatment and potentially
decreased quality of care. There is little empirical evidence investigating the mechanisms through
which ambulance diversion might affect patient outcomes, however. We investigated whether
ambulance diversion affects access to technology, likelihood of treatment, and ultimately health
outcomes for patients with acute myocardial infarction. We found that patients whose nearest
hospital experiences significant diversion indeed have reduced access to hospitals with cardiac
technology. This leads to a 4.6% decreased likelihood of revascularization and a 9.8% increase in
1-year mortality. Policymakers may consider creating targeted policies to specifically manage
certain time-sensitive conditions requiring technological intervention during periods of ambulance
diversion.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2014.1462
Health Aff (Millwood) Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Aug 1
Health Aff (Millwood) Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Aug 1
Series/Report No
Department
Business & Public Policy (GSBPP)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Grant
No. 1R01HL114822
Funder
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Grant
No. 1R01HL114822
Format
Citation
Ambulance Diversion Associated With Reduced Access To Cardiac Technology And Increased One-Year Mortality; Yu-Chu Shen, Renee Y. Hsia; Health Aff (Millwood) Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Aug 1
Ambulance Diversion Associated With Reduced Access To Cardiac Technology And Increased One-Year Mortality; Yu-Chu Shen, Renee Y. Hsia; Health Aff (Millwood) Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Aug 1
Ambulance Diversion Associated With Reduced Access To Cardiac Technology And Increased One-Year Mortality; Yu-Chu Shen, Renee Y. Hsia; Health Aff (Millwood) Author manuscript; available in PMC 2016 Aug 1
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.