ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4645-613X
Current Organisations
Queensland University of Technology
,
Queensland Ambulance Service
,
Macquarie University
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Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-05-2021
Abstract: Study objectives were to (i) develop and test a whole‐of‐system method for identifying patients who meet a major trauma by‐pass guideline definition (ii) apply this method to assess conformance to the current 2006 guideline for a road trauma cohort and (iii) leverage relevant findings to propose improvements to the guideline. Retrospective analysis of existing, routinely collected data relating to Queensland road trauma patients July 2015 to June 2017. Data from ambulance, aero‐medical retrievals, ED, hospital and death registers were linked and used for analysis. Processes of care measured included: frequency of pre‐hospital triage criteria, distribution of destination (trauma service level), compliance with guideline (recommended vs actual destination), trauma service level by threat to life (injury severity) (all modes of transport and aero‐medical in particular), proportion of patients requiring only ED, transport pathway (direct vs inter‐hospital transfer). 3847 cases were identified from data as meeting criteria for major trauma by‐pass. The top five most frequently used criteria for qualifying patients as meeting the major trauma by‐pass guideline were pulse rate, vehicle rollover, possible spinal cord injury, respiration rate and entrapment. The study demonstrates a 65% conformance to the clinical guideline. Overtriaged patients (transported to higher trauma service than recommended) generally reveal International Classification of Disease Injury Severity Score representing a high threat to life. Overall, the present study found good conformance, with overtriage rate as expected by clinicians. It is recommended to include data values to capture paramedics assessment of trauma level to enable more accurate assessment of conformance to guideline and future revision of the thresholds.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-08-2021
Abstract: International guidelines recommend amiodarone for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF). While early appropriate interventions have been shown to improve OHCA survival, the association between time to amiodarone and survival remains to be established. Included were adult OHCA in refractory VF, between January 2015 and December 2019, who received a resuscitation attempt with amiodarone from Queensland Ambulance Service paramedics. Patient characteristics and survival outcomes were described. Factors associated with survival were investigated, with a focus on time from arrest to amiodarone administration. Optimal time window for amiodarone administration was determined, and factors influencing whether amiodarone was given within the optimal time window were examined. A total of 502 patients were included. The average (range) time from arrest to amiodarone was 25 (4–83) min. Time to amiodarone was negatively associated with survival (adjusted odds ratio 0.93 for event survival 95% confidence interval 0.89–0.97). The optimal time window for amiodarone was within 23 min following arrest. Patients receiving amiodarone within the optimal time had significantly better survival than those receiving it outside this window (event survival 38.3% vs 20.6%, P 0.001 discharge survival 25.5% vs 9.7%, P 0.001 30‐day survival 25.1% vs 9.7%, P 0.001). Paramedic response time (adjusted odds ratio 0.96 95% confidence interval 0.92–0.99) and time from arrest to intravenous access (0.71 0.67–0.76) were independent factors determining whether patients received amiodarone within the optimal time. Earlier amiodarone administration was associated with improved survival. Strategies aimed at reducing delay to amiodarone administration have the potential to improve outcome.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-03-2018
DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2018.1445329
Abstract: Acute behavioral disturbance is a common problem for emergency medical services. We aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of droperidol compared to midazolam in the prehospital setting. This was a prospective before and after study comparing droperidol to midazolam for prehospital acute behavioral disturbance, when the state ambulance service changed medications. The primary outcome was the proportion of adverse effects (airway intervention, oxygen saturation < 90%, respiratory rate < 12, systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, sedation assessment tool score -3 and dystonic reactions) in patients receiving sedation. Secondary outcomes included time to sedation, requirement for additional sedation, staff and patient injuries, and prehospital time. There were 141 patients administered midazolam and 149 patients administered droperidol in the study. Alcohol was the most common cause of acute behavioral disturbance. Fewer patient adverse events occurred with droperidol (11/149) compared to midazolam (33/141) (7% vs. 23% absolute difference 16% 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8% to 24% p = 0.0001). Median time to sedation was 22 min (interquartile range [IQR]:18 to 35 min) for droperidol compared to 30 min (IQR:20 to 45 min) for midazolam. Additional prehospital sedation was required in 6/149 (4%) droperidol patients and 20/141 (14%) midazolam patients, and 11 (7%) droperidol and 59 (42%) midazolam patients required further sedation in the emergency department. There were no differences in patient or staff injuries, or prehospital time. The use of droperidol for acute behavioral disturbance in the prehospital setting is associated with fewer adverse events, a shorter time to sedation, and fewer requirements for additional sedation.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2009
Abstract: To assess extent of coder agreement for external causes of injury using ICD-10-AM for injury-related hospitalisations in Australian public hospitals. A random s le of 4850 discharges from 2002 to 2004 was obtained from a stratified random s le of 50 hospitals across four states in Australia. On-site medical record reviews were conducted and external cause codes were assigned blinded to the original coded data. Code agreement levels were grouped into the following agreement categories: block level, 3-character level, 4-character level, 5th-character level, and complete code level. At a broad block level, code agreement was found in over 90% of cases for most mechanisms (eg, transport, fall). Percentage disagreement was 26.0% at the 3-character level agreement for the complete external cause code was 67.6%. For activity codes, the percentage of disagreement at the 3-character level was 7.3% and agreement for the complete activity code was 68.0%. For place of occurrence codes, the percentage of disagreement at the 4-character level was 22.0% agreement for the complete place code was 75.4%. With 68% agreement for complete codes and 74% agreement for 3-character codes, as well as variability in agreement levels across different code blocks, place and activity codes, researchers need to be aware of the reliability of their specific data of interest when they wish to undertake trend analyses or case selection for specific causes of interest.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-03-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-12-2020
Abstract: To estimate the number of patients in refractory out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) potentially suitable for transport to an extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR)‐capable hospital in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, based on outcome predictors for ECPR, ambulance geolocation and patient data. A retrospective cohort study was performed using data from all patients in OHCA attended by Queensland Ambulance Service between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2018. The number of refractory arrest patients who could potentially be transferred to an ECPR‐capable centre within 45 min of the time of arrest was modelled using theoretical on‐scene treatment times. Of 25 518 ambulance‐attended OHCA in Queensland during the study period, 540 (2%) patients met criteria of refractory arrest for study inclusion. Further age and arrest rhythm criteria for transport to an ECPR‐capable hospital were met in 253 (47%) study patients, an average of 51 patients per year. In 2018, 72 patients met study criteria for transport to an ECPR‐capable centre. Based on theoretical on‐scene treatment times of 12 and 20 min, in 2018 only 14 (19%) and 11 (15%) patients respectively would potentially arrive at an ECPR‐capable hospital within accepted timeframes for ECPR. Retrospective data collected from existing ambulance databases can be used to model patient suitability for ECPR. Relatively few patients with refractory OHCA in Queensland, Australia, could be attended and transported to an ECPR‐capable centre within clinically acceptable timeframes. Further studies of the transport logistics and economic implications of providing ECPR services for OHCA are required to better inform decisions around this intervention.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-12-2020
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-03-2023
Abstract: Heatwaves are a significant and growing threat to the health and well-being of the residents of Queensland, Australia. This threat is increasing due to climate change. Excess heat increases the demand for health services, including ambulance calls, and the purpose of this study was to explore this impact across Queensland. A state-wide retrospective analysis of heatwaves and emergency ‘Triple Zero’ (000) calls to Queensland Ambulance (QAS) from 2010–2019 was undertaken. Call data from the QAS and heatwave data from the Bureau of Meteorology were analysed using a case-crossover approach at the postcode level. Ambulance calls increased by 12.68% during heatwaves. The effect was greatest during low-severity heatwaves (22.16%), followed by severe (14.32%) and extreme heatwaves (1.16%). The impact varied by rurality, with those living in very remote areas and major cities most impacted, along with those of low and middle socioeconomic status during low and severe intensity heat events. Lag effects post-heatwave continued for at least 10 days. Heatwaves significantly increase ambulance call centre workload, so ambulance services must actively prepare resources and personnel to address increases in heatwave frequency, duration, and severity. Communities must be informed of the risks of heatwaves at all severities, particularly low severity, and the sustained risks in the days following a heat event.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.HLC.2022.01.008
Abstract: Pre-hospital activation and direct cardiac catheterisation laboratory (CCL) transfer of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) has previously been shown to improve door-to-balloon (DTB) times yet there is limited outcome data in the Australian context. We aimed to assess the impact of pre-hospital activation on STEMI performance measures and mortality. Prospective cohort study of consecutive ambulance transported STEMI patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients over a 10-year period (1 January 2008-31 December 2017) at The Prince Charles Hospital, a large quaternary referral centre in Brisbane, Queensland Australia. Comparisons were performed between patients who underwent pre-hospital CCL activation and patients who did not. STEMI performance measures, 30-day and 1-year mortality were examined. Amongst 1,009 patients included (mean age: 62.8 yrs±12.6), pre-hospital activation increased over time (26.6% in 2008 to 75.0% in 2017, p<0.001). Median DTB time (35 mins vs 76 mins p<0.001) and percentage meeting targets (DTB<60 mins 92% vs 27%, p<0.001) improved significantly with pre-hospital activation. Pre-hospital activation was associated with significantly lower 30-day (1.0% vs 3.5%, p=0.007) and 1-year (1.2% vs 7.7%, p<0.001) mortality. After adjusting for confounders and mediators, we observed a strong total effect of pre-hospital activation on 1-year mortality (OR 5.3, 95%CI 2.2-12.4, p<0.001) compared to patients who did not have pre-hospital activation. False positive rates were 3.7% with pre-hospital activation. In patients who underwent primary PCI for STEMI, pre-hospital activation and direct CCL transfer is associated with low false positive rates, significantly reduced time to reperfusion and lower 30-day and 1-year mortality.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 14-05-2020
Abstract: In this paper we report on key findings and lessons from a process mining case study conducted to analyse transport pathways discovered across the time-critical phase of pre-hospital care for persons involved in road traffic crashes in Queensland (Australia). In this study, a case is defined as being an in idual patient’s journey from roadside to definitive care. We describe challenges in constructing an event log from source data provided by emergency services and hospitals, including record linkage (no standard patient identifier), and constructing a unified view of response, retrieval, transport and pre-hospital care from interleaving processes of the in idual service providers. We analyse three separate cohorts of patients according to their degree of interaction with Queensland Health’s hospital system (C1: no transport required, C2: transported but no Queensland Health hospital, C3: transported and hospitalisation). Variant analysis and subsequent process modelling show high levels of variance in each cohort resulting from a combination of data collection, data linkage and actual differences in process execution. For Cohort 3, automated process modelling generated ’spaghetti’ models. Expert-guided editing resulted in readable models with acceptable fitness, which were used for process analysis. We also conduct a comparative performance analysis of transport segment based on hospital ‘remoteness’. With regard to the field of process mining, we reach various conclusions including (i) in a complex domain, the current crop of automated process algorithms do not generate readable models, however, (ii) such models provide a starting point for expert-guided editing of models (where the tool allows) which can yield models that have acceptable quality and are readable by domain experts, (iii) process improvement opportunities were largely suggested by domain experts (after reviewing analysis results) rather than being directly derived by process mining tools, meaning that the field needs to become more prescriptive (automated derivation of improvement opportunities).
Publisher: No publisher found
Date: 2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.AAP.2007.09.008
Abstract: Complete and accurate information about hospitalised injuries is essential for injury risk and outcome research, though the accuracy and reliability of hospital data for injury surveillance are often questioned. To ascertain clinical coders' views of the reasons for a lack of specificity in external cause code usage and ways to improve external cause coding, a nationwide survey of coders was conducted in Australia in 2006. Four hundred and two coders participated in the questionnaire. The results of this study show that discharge summaries and doctors' notes were the poorest source of information regarding external causes, place of injury occurrence, and activity at the time of injury. Coders viewed missing external cause information and missing documentation as having the greatest impact on the quality of external cause coding. A large majority of coders suggested that improving clinical documentation in the emergency department and introducing a centralised structured form for external cause information would improve the quality of external cause coding. Clinical coders are a valuable source of information regarding problems with, and solutions to the collection of high quality data and this research has highlighted several areas where improvements can be made and further research is needed.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 30-08-2022
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 15-07-2020
DOI: 10.1136/EMERMED-2019-208958
Abstract: Delayed handover of emergency medical services (EMS) patients to EDs is a major issue with hospital crowding considered a primary cause. We explore the impact of the 4-hour rule (the Policy) in Australia, focusing on ambulance and ED delays. EMS (ambulance), ED and hospital data of adult patients presenting to 14 EDs from 2002 to 2013 in three jurisdictions were linked. Interrupted time series ‘Before-and-After’ trend analysis was used for assessing the Policy’s impact. Random effects meta-regression analysis was examined for associations between ambulance delays and Policy-associated ED intake, throughput and output changes. Before the Policy, the proportion of ED ambulances delayed increased between 1.1% and 1.7% per quarter across jurisdictions. After Policy introduction, Western Australia’s increasing trend continued but Queensland decreased by 5.1% per quarter. In New South Wales, ambulance delay decreased 7.1% in the first quarter after Policy introduction. ED intake (triage delay) improved only in New South Wales and Queensland. Each 1% ambulance delay reduction was significantly associated with a 0.91% reduction in triage delay (p=0.014) but not ED length of stay ≤4 hours (p=0.307) or access-block/boarding (p=0.605) suggesting only partial improvement in ambulance delay overall. The Policy was associated with reduced ambulance delays over time in Queensland and only the immediate period in New South Wales. Associations may be due to local jurisdictional initiatives to improve ambulance performance. Strategies to alleviate ambulance delay may need to focus on the ED intake component. These should be re-examined with longer periods of post-Policy data.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-10-2016
Abstract: The present study aimed to describe and examine similarities and differences in the current service provision and resuscitation protocols of the ambulance services participating in the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) Epistry. Understanding these similarities and differences is important in identifying ambulance service factors that might explain regional variation in survival of OHCA in the Aus-ROC Epistry. A structured questionnaire was completed by each of the ambulance services participating in the Aus-ROC Epistry. These ambulance services were SA Ambulance Service, Ambulance Victoria, St John Ambulance Western Australia, Queensland Ambulance Service, St John Ambulance NT, St John New Zealand and Wellington Free Ambulance. The survey aimed to describe ambulance service and dispatch characteristics, resuscitation protocols and details of cardiac arrest registries. We observed similarities between services with respect to the treatment of OHCA and dispatch systems. Differences between services were observed in the serviced population the proportion of paramedics with basic life support, advanced life support or intensive care training skills the number of OHCA cases attended guidelines related to withholding or terminating resuscitation attempts and the variables that might be used to define 'attempted resuscitation'. All seven participating ambulance services were noted to have existing OHCA registries. There is marked variation between ambulance services currently participating in the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry with respect to workforce characteristics and key variable definitions. This variation between ambulance services might account for a proportion of the regional variation in survival of OHCA.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 02-2009
Abstract: To appraise the published evidence regarding the accuracy of external cause-of-injury codes in hospital records. Systematic review. Electronic databases searched included PubMed, PubMed Central, Medline, CINAHL, Academic Search Elite, Proquest Health and Medical Complete, and Google Scholar. Snowballing strategies were used by searching the bibliographies of retrieved references to identify relevant associated articles. Studies were included in the review if they assessed the accuracy of external cause-of-injury coding in hospital records via a recoding methodology. The papers identified through the search were independently screened by two authors for inclusion. Because of heterogeneity between studies, meta-analysis was not performed. Very limited research on the accuracy of external cause coding for injury-related hospitalisation using medical record review and recoding methodologies has been conducted, with only five studies matching the selection criteria. The accuracy of external cause coding using ICD-9-CM ranged from approximately 64% when exact code agreement was examined to approximately 85% when agreement for broader groups of codes was examined. Although broad external cause groupings coded in ICD-9-CM can be used with some confidence, researchers should exercise caution for very specific codes until further research is conducted to validate these data. As all previous studies have been conducted using ICD-9-CM, research is needed to quantify the accuracy of coding using ICD-10-AM, and validate the use of these data for injury surveillance purposes.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 22-12-2014
DOI: 10.1136/EMERMED-2012-201969
Abstract: To evaluate the feasibility, limitations and costs involved in providing prehospital trauma teams with packed red blood cells (pRBCs) for use in the prehospital setting. A retrospective cohort study, examining 18 months of historical data collated by the Queensland Ambulance Service Trauma Response Team (TRT) and the Pathology Queensland Central Transfusion Laboratory was undertaken. Over an 18-month period (1 January 2011-30 June 2012), of 500 pRBC units provided to the TRT, 130 (26%) were administered to patients in the prehospital environment. Of the non-transfused units, 97.8% were returned to a hospital blood bank and were available for reissue. No instances of equipment failure directly contributed to wastage of pRBCs. The cost of providing pRBCs for prehospital use was $A551 (£361) for each unit transfused. It is feasible and practical to provide prehospital trauma teams with pRBCs for use in the field. Use of pRBCs in the prehospital setting is associated with similar rates of pRBC wastage to that reported in emergency departments.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.RESUSCITATION.2018.02.029
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate regional variation in the characteristics, incidence and outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Australia and New Zealand. This was a population-based cohort study of OHCA using data from the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry over the period of 01 January 2015-31 December 2015. Seven ambulance services contributed data to the Epistry with a capture population of 19.8 million people. All OHCA attended by ambulance, regardless of aetiology or patient age, were included. In 2015, there were 19,722 OHCA cases recorded in the Aus-ROC Epistry with an overall crude incidence of 102.5 cases per 100,000 population (range: 51.0-107.7 per 100,000 population). Of all OHCA cases attended by EMS (excluding EMS-witnessed cases), bystander CPR was performed in 41% of cases (range: 36%-50%). Resuscitation was attempted (by EMS) in 48% of cases (range: 40%-68%). The crude incidence for attempted resuscitation cases was 47.6 per 100,000 population (range: 34.7-54.1 per 100,000 population). Of cases with attempted resuscitation, 28% survived the event (range: 21%-36%) and 12% survived to hospital discharge or 30 days (range: 9%-17% data provided by five ambulance services). In the first results of the Aus-ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry, significant regional variation in the incidence, characteristics and outcomes was observed. Understanding the system-level and public health drivers of this variation will assist in optimisation of the chain of survival provided to OHCA patients with the aim of improving outcomes.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-07-2022
DOI: 10.1080/10903127.2022.2096159
Abstract: To identify the epidemiological patterns of pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) in Queensland, Australia and to investigate associations between patient variables and prehospital outcome. Included were pediatric (>4 days-18 years) OHCA patients attended by paramedics in the state of Queensland (Australia) between January 2009 and December 2019. Patient and arrest characteristics were described. Factors associated with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) on hospital arrival were investigated. A total of 1,612 pediatric patients were included 611 were deceased prior to paramedic arrival and 1,001 received resuscitation attempts by paramedics. Approximately one quarter (26.8%) of resuscitation-attempted patients achieved ROSC on hospital arrival. Most arrests (49.7%) were due to medical causes. Arrests due to trauma had the lowest rate of ROSC on hospital arrival (9.6%), whereas those due to drug overdose had the highest rate (40%). Patients in rural areas had a lower rate of ROSC on hospital arrival than those in metropolitan areas (20.7% vs 32.5%, p < 0.001). The median response interval to all OHCA patients was 8 minutes. Trauma was considerably more prevalent in rural areas than in metropolitan areas, while all other etiologies were comparable. Older pediatric age groups had higher rates of ROSC on hospital arrival than infants, particularly early adolescents (39.4% vs. 14.9%, p = 0.001). Etiology, age, bystander witness, shockable initial rhythm, and geographic locality factors were independently associated with ROSC on hospital arrival. Approximately a quarter of pediatric prehospital OHCA achieved ROSC on hospital arrival. Prehospital outcome differs according to patient cohort and is associated with erse patient demographic variables.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 20-11-2021
DOI: 10.1136/HEARTJNL-2020-317333
Abstract: To describe annual incidence and temporal trends (2002–2014) in incidence of long-term outcomes of adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of presumed cardiac aetiology attended by Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics, by age, gender, geographical remoteness and socioeconomic status (SES). This is a retrospective cohort study. Cases were identified using the QAS OHCA Registry and were linked with entries in the Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection and the Queensland Registrar General Death Registry. Population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics to calculate incidence. Inclusion criteria were adult (18+ years) residents of Queensland who suffered OHCA of presumed cardiac aetiology and survived to hospital admission. Analyses were undertaken by three mutually exclusive outcomes: (1) survival to less than 30 days (Surv days) (2) survival from 30 to 364 days (Surv30–364 days) and (3) survival to 365 days or more (Surv365+ days). Incidence rates were calculated for each year by gender, age, remoteness and SES. Temporal trends were analysed. Over the 13 years there were 4393 cases for analyses. The incidence of total admitted events (9.72–10.13 p .01), Surv30–364 days (0.18–0.42 p .05) and Surv365+ days (1.94–4.02 p .001) increased significantly over time no trends were observed for Surv days. An increase in Surv365+ days over time was observed in all remoteness categories and most SES categories. Evidence suggests that implemented strategies to improve outcomes from OHCA have been successful and penetrated groups living in more remote locations and the lower socioeconomic groups. These populations still require focus. Ongoing reporting of long-term outcomes from OHCA should be undertaken using population-based incidence.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-07-2019
Abstract: To describe temporal trends in incidence of pre-hospital outcomes from adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of presumed cardiac aetiology attended by Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics between 2002 and 2014, by age, gender, geographical remoteness and socio-economic status. Cases included in this retrospective cohort study were identified from the QAS OHCA Registry. Included cases were linked with Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection and Queensland Death Registry. Population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics to calculate incidence rates for each year. Analyses were undertaken by four mutually exclusive pre-hospital outcomes: (i) no resuscitation (No-Resus) (ii) resuscitation, no pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (No-ROSC) (iii) resuscitation, pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation not sustained to hospital (Unsustained-ROSC) and (iv) resuscitation, pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation sustained to hospital (Sustained-ROSC). Trends over time were analysed for crude and specific rates for total OHCA events and for each outcome. Between 2002 and 2014, there were 30 560 OHCA cases. Crude incidence significantly increased over time for No-Resus and Sustained-ROSC, and significantly decreased for No-ROSC. These trends were reflected in major cities, inner and outer regional areas. There was a significant increase in Sustained-ROSC in remote areas, and no significant trends in very remote areas. Incidence of withholding resuscitation and ROSC sustained to hospital have independently increased over time. Factors of middle age, more rural location and lower socio-economic status should all be targeted in the development and implementation of future strategies.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-03-2019
Abstract: While noting the importance of data quality, existing process mining methodologies (i) do not provide details on how to assess the quality of event data (ii) do not consider how the identification of data quality issues can be exploited in the planning, data extraction and log building phases of any process mining analysis, (iii) do not highlight potential impacts of poor quality data on different types of process analyses. As our key contribution, we develop a process-centric, data quality-driven approach to preparing for a process mining analysis which can be applied to any existing process mining methodology. Our approach, adapted from elements of the well known CRISP-DM data mining methodology, includes conceptual data modeling, quality assessment at both attribute and event level, and trial discovery and conformance to develop understanding of system processes and data properties to inform data extraction. We illustrate our approach in a case study involving the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Retrieval Services Queensland (RSQ). We describe the detailed preparation for a process mining analysis of retrieval and transport processes (ground and aero-medical) for road-trauma patients in Queensland. S le datasets obtained from QAS and RSQ are utilised to show how quality metrics, data models and exploratory process mining analyses can be used to (i) identify data quality issues, (ii) anticipate and explain certain observable features in process mining analyses, (iii) distinguish between systemic and occasional quality issues, and (iv) reason about the mechanisms by which identified quality issues may have arisen in the event log. We contend that this knowledge can be used to guide the data extraction and pre-processing stages of a process mining case study to properly align the data with the case study research questions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-07-2019
Abstract: To describe incidence in pre-hospital outcomes of adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of presumed cardiac aetiology, attended by Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics between 2002 and 2014, by age, gender, geographical remoteness and socio-economic status. The QAS OHCA Registry was used to identify cases, which was then linked with Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection and Queensland Death Registry. Population data were obtained for each calendar year by age and gender from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in order to calculate incidence rates. Four mutually exclusive pre-hospital outcomes were analysed: (i) no resuscitation (No-Resus) (ii) resuscitation, no pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation (No-ROSC) (iii) resuscitation, pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation not sustained to hospital (Unsustained-ROSC) and (iv) resuscitation, pre-hospital return of spontaneous circulation sustained to hospital (Sustained-ROSC). Over the 13 years, there were 30 560 OHCA cases for analyses. Incidence was significantly greater in males than females and incrementally increased with age, for each outcome. Incidence of total OHCA events generally increased as remoteness increased (major cities: 72.39 per 100 000 [95% CI 71.35-73.45] very remote: 87.01 per 100 000 [95% CI 78.03-95.98]). There was an inverse association between incidence of OHCA events and socio-economic status (SEIFA 1 and 2: 81.34 per 100 000 [95% CI 79.28-83.40] SEIFA 9 and 10: 61.57 per 100 000 [95% CI 59.67-63.46]). Rural-specific strategies should be continued. Prevention and management strategies for OHCA targeting lower socio-economic groups require focus.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 04-2016
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2013
DOI: 10.1111/ACEM.12149
Abstract: The objective was to study the role and effect of patients' perceptions on reasons for using ambulance services in Queensland, Australia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted of patients (n = 911) presenting via ambulance or self-transport at eight public hospital emergency departments (EDs). The survey included perceived illness severity, attitudes toward ambulance, and reasons for using ambulance. A theoretical framework was developed to inform this study. Ambulance users had significantly higher self-rated perceived seriousness, urgency, and pain than self-transports. They were also more likely to agree that ambulance services are for everyone to use, regardless of the severity of their conditions. In compared to self-transports, likelihood of using an ambulance increased by 26% for every unit increase in perceived seriousness and patients who had not used an ambulance in the 6 months prior to the survey were 66% less likely to arrive by ambulance. Patients who had presented via ambulance stated they considered the urgency (87%) or severity (84%) of their conditions as reasons for calling the ambulance. Other reasons included requiring special care (76%), getting higher priority at the ED (34%), not having a car (34%), and financial concerns (17%). Understanding patients' perceptions is essential in explaining their actions and developing safe and effective health promotion programs. In iduals use ambulances for various reasons and justifications according to their beliefs, attitudes, and sociodemographic conditions. Policies to reduce and manage demand for such services need to address both general opinions and specific attitudes toward emergency health services to be effective.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-11-2017
Abstract: To describe trends in incidence and shockable status of adult out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) of presumed cardiac aetiology attended by Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics between 2002 and 2014. The QAS cardiac arrest registry was used to collect data. Analyses included age-standardised rates by gender for all adults and older adults only (65 years+) age-specific incidence rates of young adults (18-49), middle age adults (50-64) and five groups of older adults (65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84 and 85+) and proportions of shockable versus non-shockable initial rhythm together and by age group (young, middle age and older adults). Temporal trends were analysed. Over the 13 years, 32 346 cases of adult OHCA of presumed cardiac aetiology were recorded on the QAS OHCA registry. Age-standardised incidence reduced significantly over time overall and in males only, in all adults and independently in older adults. A significant reduction independently in females was observed only in older adults. Age-specific rates reduced in the 18-49, 70-74, 75-79 and 80-84 year age groups, increased in the 50-64 age group (largely attributable to females) and no significant trends were found in the 65-69 and 85+ age groups. The proportion of cases with an initially shockable rhythm significantly decreased overall. This trend was observed independently in older adults, but not in young or middle age adults. Age-standardised incidence has reduced with a period of stagnation in the middle age and early older years. These factors require consideration in data interpretation and strategy planning.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2023
Location: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
No related grants have been discovered for Emma Bosley.