Perception Versus Reality?
- Tim Reitz
- Jun 24, 2019
- 2 min read
So, looking at some NEMSIS data, which is the data pulled from EMS providers patient reports. I was a little taken back by this data set. Between 2017 and May 2019, 81.2% of EMS providers report that Naloxone (Narcan) was NOT administered prior to EMS arrival (1). So the question must be asked. Is their a false perception that Narcan is being administered by non-healthcare providers more than it really is? Or are EMS Professionals failing to document accurately? Maybe a little of both? While my gut tells me the numbers should not be off too much with documentation. But maybe this demonstrates the perceptions found in the media, the public, and probably is the result of people simply reading abstracts from medical studies and not the actual study. (By the way, if you just read the abstract, this would be like saying you saw a movie when really all you did was watch the movie trailer). Keep in mind, this data set is only for the public administration and does not represent the EMS administration of Narcan. The complaints and impressions of EMS do account for Overdose and Opioid Abuse. However, upon a cursory reading, the complaint (reported to EMS), versus the impression (what EMS believes is the issue) differs by about 7%. Does this then mean the public can recognize an OD?
This graphic represents what is being reported by EMS today. We would need further studies to identify further meaning. One thing worries me. Is there a correlation between this and the frequency of bystander CPR? According to 2017 data from the American Heart Association, only 46% of those who suffer from out of hospital cardiac arrest receive bystander CPR (2). Will we see changes in bystander CPR rates as a result of the opioid epidemic? Only time will tell. Regardless of your beliefs. We are still talking about another human being.
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