Prehospital Research

Abstract

Prehospital care experienced a “honeymoon” from the early 1970s until recently. Treatments usually were extrapolated directly from the hospital setting, even though the prehospital environment is markedly different. That honeymoon is over and emergency medical services (EMS) providers must prove what is beneficial. Additionally, academic prehospital care physicians interested in professional advancement, must show the same ability as do the more traditional medical academicians to expand the knowledge base of their chosen field.This manuscript will highlight the basic features and identify the potential benefits and pitfalls of prehospital research. This chapter is not a cookbook for EMS research, nor will it obviate the need for accessing other sources on research design. Other manuscripts within this series will focus on more specific topics; yet, it will be obvious that many of the points made here will be re-emphasized in the following papers. That simply is a reflection of the importance of these commonly overlooked perils and pitfalls.