The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49191

David P. Edwards¹, Petra Menzel, MPH², Margaret A. Dolan, MD², and Jerry Overton¹. (1) Richmond Ambulance Authority, Richmond Ambulance authority, Hermitage Rd, Richmond, VA 2329, 804-254-1183, dedwards@raaems.org, (2) Virginia EMS for Children Program, Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980107, Richmond, VA 23298

Identifying patterns in EMS responses represents an evidence-based approach to prioritizing limited public health resources for intervention and prevention programs within communities. Merging EMS, Census, public health and law enforcement data into a common format through multi-agency collaboration, and processing the data with Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software, we hypothesized it would be possible to identify areas where community intervention strategies could be effectively focused and evaluated. The Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system utilized by the Richmond Ambulance Authority uses defined codes to pre-categorize EMS response resources, based upon medically approved dispatcher interrogation of 911 callers, then generates geographical coordinates for scene location and patient destination. A separate database contains patient condition codes based upon the field medic's written prehospital patient care record. Demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau and community crime statistics from the Richmond Police Department were collected. EMS response and transport data from the CAD system, ICD9 codes from the billing system, census data and crime statistics were merged into a common database. Using ArcView's GIS program, spatial representations were created showing EMS response patterns for specific problem codes, and where applicable demographic data by census tract was represented as graduated background color. Using spatial representation, clear patterns for EMS responses emerged. Richmond based programs are utilizing these patterns to prioritize resources and focus efforts toward areas with the greatest need. Widely available GIS software offers an effective new tool for the analysis of existing public health, public safety and emergency medical services data.

Learning Objectives: The learner will be able to

• Describe how GIS software can identify patterns of EMS utilization for pediatric injury
• Prioritize injury and violence prevention resource distribution based on geomapping 3.Articulate five advantages for geomapping of multi-agency public health data

Keywords: Geographic Information Systems, EMS/Trauma

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.ppt format, 913.0 kb)