ROCKVILLE, Md., May 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Multiple
data sources, including scientific survey data, medical studies and
analyses of data in regions that have imposed ambulance fees,
indicate that ambulance fees will discourage calls to emergency
services for help, risking the health and safety of those
experiencing medical emergencies. More specifically,
- A paper released on May 6, 2010
by the Heart Foundation of Australia – whose emergency
medical system is similar to that in the U.S. – reported that
almost 7% of participants would be “very” or “somewhat” likely to
delay calling an ambulance due to the costs involved.
- A February 2008 survey of Montgomery County, MD residents found
that 74% of respondents believe that it is “very” or “somewhat”
convincing that ambulance fees would cause poor and elderly
patients needing transport to a hospital to hesitate or delay
calling 911.
Three studies in peer-review medical journals found that cost
considerations may play a factor in delaying activation of the
emergency medical system in cardiac emergencies:
- “Economic considerations may affect EMS system utilization
among underinsured and low-income patients experiencing a cardiac
event,” cited in Association between prepayment systems and
emergency medical services use among patients with acute chest
discomfort syndrome (for the Rapid Early Action for Coronary
Treatment (REACT) Study), Ann Emerg Med. 2000 June;
35(6):573-8.
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