TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving response to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
T2 - The verified responder program pilot
AU - Blackwood, Jennifer
AU - Mancera, Michael
AU - Bavery, Scott
AU - Carbon, Christopher
AU - Daya, Mohamud
AU - VanKeulen, Brent
AU - Alteneder, Dana N.
AU - Helm, Jeff
AU - Robertson, Jeremy
AU - Charbonneau, Julie
AU - Nania, James M.
AU - Schaeffer, Brian
AU - Lopez, Mike
AU - Loncon, Tim
AU - Collins, Bryan
AU - Charter, Michael
AU - Jorgenson, Dawn B.
AU - Gao, Mengqi
AU - Price, Richard
AU - Rea, Thomas
N1 - Funding Information:
The study was supported by Laerdal Foundation for Acute Medicine and Philips Healthcare through a research grant and the donation of AEDs by Philips Healthcare. PulsePoint provided technical support and consultation. We thank the respective Fire Department leadership and the Verified Responders from each community.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2020/9
Y1 - 2020/9
N2 - Background: Survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) decreases as the interval from collapse to CPR and defibrillation increases. Innovative approaches are needed to reduce response intervals, especially for private locations. Methods: We undertook the Verified Responder Program in 5 United States communities during 2018, whereby off-duty EMS professionals volunteered and were equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Volunteers were alerted using a geospatial smartphone application (PulsePoint) and could respond to nearby private and public suspected OHCA. The study evaluated the frequency of Verified Responder notification, response, scene arrival, and initial care prior to EMS arrival. OHCA surveillance used the CARES registry. Results: Of the 651 OHCA events (475 private, 176 public), Verified Responders were notified in 7.4% (n = 49). Among the 475 in a private location, volunteers were alerted in 8% (n = 38), responded in 2.7% (n = 13), arrived on scene in 2.3% (n = 11), and provided initial care in 1.7% (n = 8). Among the 176 in a public location, volunteers were alerted in 6.3% (n = 11), responded in 2.3% (n = 4), arrived on-scene in 2.3% (n = 4), and provided initial care in 2.3% (n = 4). Over 96% surveyed had positive impression of the program and intended to continue participation. No responder reported any adverse event. Conclusions: In this initial US-based experience of a smartphone program for suspected OHCA in private and public locations, Verified Responders reported a positive experience, though were only involved in a small fraction of OHCA. Studies should determine how this type of program could be enhanced to involve more OHCA events.
AB - Background: Survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) decreases as the interval from collapse to CPR and defibrillation increases. Innovative approaches are needed to reduce response intervals, especially for private locations. Methods: We undertook the Verified Responder Program in 5 United States communities during 2018, whereby off-duty EMS professionals volunteered and were equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Volunteers were alerted using a geospatial smartphone application (PulsePoint) and could respond to nearby private and public suspected OHCA. The study evaluated the frequency of Verified Responder notification, response, scene arrival, and initial care prior to EMS arrival. OHCA surveillance used the CARES registry. Results: Of the 651 OHCA events (475 private, 176 public), Verified Responders were notified in 7.4% (n = 49). Among the 475 in a private location, volunteers were alerted in 8% (n = 38), responded in 2.7% (n = 13), arrived on scene in 2.3% (n = 11), and provided initial care in 1.7% (n = 8). Among the 176 in a public location, volunteers were alerted in 6.3% (n = 11), responded in 2.3% (n = 4), arrived on-scene in 2.3% (n = 4), and provided initial care in 2.3% (n = 4). Over 96% surveyed had positive impression of the program and intended to continue participation. No responder reported any adverse event. Conclusions: In this initial US-based experience of a smartphone program for suspected OHCA in private and public locations, Verified Responders reported a positive experience, though were only involved in a small fraction of OHCA. Studies should determine how this type of program could be enhanced to involve more OHCA events.
KW - Automated external defibrillator
KW - Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
KW - Emergency medical services
KW - Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
KW - Smartphone
KW - Social media
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85087722530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85087722530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.06.015
DO - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.06.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 32580006
AN - SCOPUS:85087722530
SN - 0300-9572
VL - 154
SP - 1
EP - 6
JO - Resuscitation
JF - Resuscitation
ER -