How Often Do Paramedics Save Lives?

[SpecialK]

I think something like only 1% of our call volume (~400,000) is classified as immediately life threatening and this is reserved for patients in cardiac or respiratory arrest.

 

[EpiEMS]

That is usually the case. Many people are not adequately prepared for end life decisions, families do not want to let go, or religious/cultural preferences do not allow for DNRs. We have a large Jewish population who are almost always full codes.

I had a conversation with a (more so than me, anyway) expert on Halacha, and apparently the full code, among some very religious Jewish communities, is seen as a requirement -- the attitude is "We should do everything we can to prolong life."

Being my arrogant self I think I can handle emergencies/codes at the same level, if not better, than most paramedics with similar experience.

Well, exceptions don't make the rule
I'm curious to see if there are any studies comparing MD/DO vs. RN vs. medic codes under the same conditions...though I doubt it.

 

[Carlos Danger]

The PMs that gave less than 1% save rate aren't looking at the pt in acute CHF or full blown PE they treated and transported.

I think to be counted as a "save", however, you'd have to show that the treatment provided prior to arrival at the hospital was a defining factor in the patient's survival, and that the patient would definitely not have survived if they had just been driven to the hospital by BLS personnel. That's tough or impossible to do with a CHF or PE scenario.

Or the pt with non-specific chest pain that wound up needing a CABG and survived because they were convinced to take transport.

That is an excellent point, and it illustrates why focusing on "saves" to define worth is pointless. Reductions in morbidity, pain, suffering, and cost are very valuable, but are left out of any equation that just looks at "number of saves".

As for PMs vs RNs, overall PMs. They are more able to operate independently without the support of ER staff or hospital support.

Not sure how this relates to "saves", but the idea that nurses don't function with a fair amount of independence is a big misconception on the part of paramedics. There is really very little that I did as a paramedic that I didn't as an ICU nurse, and the many resuscitations I was involved with in the ICU were typically much more complicated than simply following ACLS.

 

[tchristifulli]

I was told 90% of the people we come in contact with will have the same outcome no matter what we do. That 10% we make a difference for, is worth my entire career and training. If I could make a difference in 5%, I would go in to work everyday with a smile on my face. The people you get to meet, the conversations with people who have weeks to live , the warm hand you give a old man who just lost his wife. That's why we do this! The number of people we save .... Maybe 10%.... The number of people we touch 100%

 

[chaz90]

I was told 90% of the people we come in contact with will have the same outcome no matter what we do.

Probably more like 90% will be fine regardless of what we do, 9% will die relatively soon of their terminal condition regardless of what we do, and perhaps 1% have an acute condition or an exacerbation of something chronic that we can make a life prolonging impact.

 

[kindofafireguy]

Probably more like 90% will be fine regardless of what we do, 9% will die relatively soon of their terminal condition regardless of what we do, and perhaps 1% have an acute condition or an exacerbation of something chronic that we can make a life prolonging impact.

This.

 

[mycrofft]

The vast majority of saves are made by laypersons or the victims themselves who refrain from doing something injurious and get driven safely at an early stage to the nearest medical facility.

 

[unleashedfury]

Define Saving lives,

If you mean the CPR, to bring back the patient who then becomes extubated and returns home with no deficitis, Rare

The trauma patient hung up into a vehicle who is suffering from major head and chest trauma and needs interventions immediately to have a life. Even Rarer

If you talking about the person who got them selves into their own mess, you got called because they OD'd or got beat by their man or something and you talk to them and give them motivation to turn their life around.. Tons..


In my 13 years of EMS I have had 3 cardiac arrest saves that actually had some quality of life after the fact, I think 1 severe trauma that ended up being at the right place right time and made it to the OR within 2 hours.

OTOH I had a young girl, who was freshly 18 and decided to drop out of school and go be with some guy she met off the internet well she got messed up into some serious illicit drugs, and beaten by the guy on a daily basis. Well when she was thrown through their front bay window. PD was finally called with us. She wasn't critical or even Urgent. Just needed some stitches and a few xrays. and turned out ok. On the way down The only thing I thought about is my little girl and how I'd kill someone if they treated her like that. We chatted and told her my story. and about maybe she made some mistakes but now she needs to turn it around. about a month ago she stopped by my station looking for me. turns out she listened. She left the dude. got off the dope. got a job, is finishing school and getting custody of her daughter. And she wanted to thank me cause she said no one gave a crap enough to say something to her. And hitting rock bottom along with someone to give her some down to earth non sugar coated advice is what she needed. So did I save a life. in a way yes. Sometimes its not always the glorious interventions that fix things. Sometimes its being what someone needs at that very moment

90% of the job is taking minor injuries or acute exacerbations of chronic illness to where they need to be. 8% is moderate injuries. and 2% is the real deal.

 

[mycrofft]

Define Saving lives,

If you mean the CPR, to bring back the patient who then becomes extubated and returns home with no deficitis, Rare

The trauma patient hung up into a vehicle who is suffering from major head and chest trauma and needs interventions immediately to have a life. Even Rarer

If you talking about the person who got them selves into their own mess, you got called because they OD'd or got beat by their man or something and you talk to them and give them motivation to turn their life around.. Tons..


In my 13 years of EMS I have had 3 cardiac arrest saves that actually had some quality of life after the fact, I think 1 severe trauma that ended up being at the right place right time and made it to the OR within 2 hours.

OTOH I had a young girl, who was freshly 18 and decided to drop out of school and go be with some guy she met off the internet well she got messed up into some serious illicit drugs, and beaten by the guy on a daily basis. Well when she was thrown through their front bay window. PD was finally called with us. She wasn't critical or even Urgent. Just needed some stitches and a few xrays. and turned out ok. On the way down The only thing I thought about is my little girl and how I'd kill someone if they treated her like that. We chatted and told her my story. and about maybe she made some mistakes but now she needs to turn it around. about a month ago she stopped by my station looking for me. turns out she listened. She left the dude. got off the dope. got a job, is finishing school and getting custody of her daughter. And she wanted to thank me cause she said no one gave a crap enough to say something to her. And hitting rock bottom along with someone to give her some down to earth non sugar coated advice is what she needed. So did I save a life. in a way yes. Sometimes its not always the glorious interventions that fix things. Sometimes its being what someone needs at that very moment

90% of the job is taking minor injuries or acute exacerbations of chronic illness to where they need to be. 8% is moderate injuries. and 2% is the real deal.

Money shot.