Abstract
The scientific literature on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is extensive, but little is written about the role of emergency medical services (EMS). The objective of this study is to describe the role of Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel's national emergency prehospital medical organization, in the pre-exposure period, before widespread governmental action. These efforts were based on (1) phone diagnosis, dispatch, and transport; and (2) border management checkpoints. This is a descriptive study of MDA's role in pandemic response during the pre-exposure period. Medical emergency telephone calls from either individuals or medical sources were identified by a dispatcher as "suspected COVID-19" based on symptoms and travel exposure. Data were also collected for travelers approaching the MDA border checkpoint at Ben-Gurion International Airport. The total number of protected transports during this time was 121. Of these, 44 (36.3%) were referred by medical sources, and 77 (63.7%) were identified as "suspected COVID-19" by dispatchers. The checkpoint was accessed by 156 travelers: 87 were sent to home-quarantine; 12 were transported to the hospital; 18 were refused entry; and 39 required no further action. EMS can work effectively in the pre-exposure period through instructing home quarantine, providing protected transport, and staffing border control checkpoints.
Highlights
The total number of protected transports during this time was 121
Pandemics drive a heavy consumption of medical resources, including those of emergency medical services (EMS).[3]
Calls were identified and categorized by a dispatcher as “suspected COVID-19” based on symptoms and travel exposure. These calls were divided into 2 categories: (1) calls from individuals identified by an Magen David Adom (MDA) dispatcher as “suspected COVID-19” and (2) calls from medical sources, that is, clinics, HMO physicians, and urgent care centers
Summary
This is a descriptive study of MDA’s role in pandemic response during the pre-exposure period. Medical emergency telephone calls from either individuals or medical sources were identified by a dispatcher as “suspected COVID-19” based on symptoms and travel exposure. The pre-exposure period in Israel was defined as the time from January 21, 2020, when China’s outbreak was confirmed, until February 22, 2020, when the first known case of exposure in Israel was confirmed among a group of South Korean tourists, totaling 32 days. Calls were identified and categorized by a dispatcher as “suspected COVID-19” based on symptoms (fever over 38°C, breathing difficulties, sore throat) and travel exposure. These calls were divided into 2 categories: (1) calls from individuals identified by an MDA dispatcher as “suspected COVID-19” and (2) calls from medical sources, that is, clinics, HMO physicians, and urgent care centers.
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