Trend Analyses of Emergency Medical Services for Motor Vehicle Crashes: Michigan Case Study

Abstract

The timely response of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel at a crash site may help prevent loss of life and thereby impact the quality of life for an individual at risk. Thus, availability of and access to quantitative data on EMS activities is critical. This study was conducted to review the data collected by the Michigan Department of Community Health, Emergency Medical Services Section, from a five-year period starting in 2010. The intent was to identify current EMS response, treatment, and transport trends. Among the results noted in this paper, it was identified that on average, the total times involved from the dispatch call to the drop-off of a patient from a motor vehicle collision (MVC) in Michigan were approximately 56 and 43 min for rural and urban areas, respectively. The results from this study could be utilized to guide and direct future EMS initiatives relating to MVCs. The analysis might also be beneficial in predicting the types of injuries that occur in specific types of vehicle crashes. Several challenges and recommendations are provided in the paper.