Outcomes of Basic Versus Advanced Life Support for Out-of-Hospital Medical Emergencies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most Medicare patients seeking emergency medical transport are treated by ambulance providers trained in advanced life support (ALS). Evidence supporting the superiority of ALS over basic life support (BLS) is limited, but some studies suggest ALS may harm patients.

Objective

To compare outcomes after ALS and BLS in out-of-hospital medical emergencies.

Design

Observational study with adjustment for propensity score weights and instrumental variable analyses based on county-level variations in ALS use.

Setting

Traditional Medicare.

Patients

20% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries from nonrural counties between 2006 and 2011 with major trauma, stroke, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), or respiratory failure.

Measurements

Neurologic f

SUBMITTER: Sanghavi P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4945100 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature