Analysis of Operational Results of the 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this research is to estimate the recent function and the correct situation of the 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center and to recommend a future direction. METHOD: The operational results from the Taegu 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center from January 1, 1992, to December 31, 2001, were analyzed and compared retrospectively to the operational results from three other 1339 Emergency Medical Information Centers. The results were analyzed according to the numbers of phone calls for various purposes, numbers per population, numbers per bed, and numbers per square kilometer in the area. Answers to five questions obatained by phone calls to personnel working at 1339 Emergency Medical Information Centers in various areas in Korea were anaylzed, too. RESULTS: In the case of Taegu 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center, simple telephone inquiry is accounted for 66.8% of the calls, requests for hospital information 27.1%, consultations for diseases 4.6%, and connection to ambulances 1.5%. Seoul 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center had the highest rate of first aid consultations (42%) and the lowest rate of requests for hospital information (38.5%). Seoul center had the highest numbers of total phone calls per population, per bed, and per square kilometer in the area. Rate of connections to ambulance per bed was the highest at Busan center. In the phone call survey of personnel working at 1339 Emergency Medical Information Centers, 65% answered that the extent of use of the Information Center was low. The main reason was the lack of assistance from hospitals and 119. No personnel opposed to the integrated information management of all 1339 Emergency Medical Information Centers. CONCLUSIONS: The functions of the 1339 Emergency Medical Information Centers should be rebuilt to respect the characteristics of specific regions and should be harmonized with integrated management. A correct, useful, realtime supply of information is required, and the mutual confidence between Emergency Medical Information Centers and related institutes is essential.