Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33407406›Full record

SynthesisBMC health services research2021

Reshaping healthcare delivery for elderly patients: the role of community paramedicine; a systematic review.

Julia van Vuuren, Brodie Thomas, Gina Agarwal, Sean MacDermott, Leigh Kinsman, Peter O'Meara, Evelien Spelten

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC health services research, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
29citing papers in PubMed
12.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

29 citing papers in PubMed, 66 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
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  4. A Cost Analysis of Mobile Integrated Health for Acute Care.The western journal of emergency medicine · 2026
    Article
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  11. Community paramedicine in dementia care.Journal of the American Geriatrics Society · 2024
    Article
  12. Observational
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  15. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Julia van VuurenDepartment of Community Health, Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia. j.vanvuuren@latrobe.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3683-6227
Brodie ThomasDepartment of Community Health, Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Gina AgarwalDepartment of Family Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
Sean MacDermottDepartment of Community Health, Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
Leigh KinsmanUniversity of Newcastle and Mid-North Coast Local Health District, Port Macquarie Base Hospital, Port Macquarie, Australia.
Peter O'MearaDepartment of Paramedicine, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, Melbourne, Australia.
Evelien SpeltenDepartment of Community Health, Rural Health School, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
La Trobe University · AUImpact · CAMonash University · AUPort Macquarie Base Hospital · AU

Funding

La Trobe University RFA 2000004174
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHealthcare systems are overloaded and changing. In response to growing demands on the healthcare systems, new models of healthcare delivery are emerging. Community paramedicine is a novel approach in which paramedics use their knowledge and skills beyond emergency health response to contribute to preventative and rehabilitative health. In our systematic review, we aimed to identify evidence of the community paramedicine role in care delivery for elderly patients, with an additional focus on palliative care, and the possible impact of this role on the wider healthcare system.

methodsA systematic review of peer-reviewed literature from MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Sciences was undertaken to identify relevant full-text articles in English published until October 3, 2019. Additional inclusion criteria were studies focussing on extended care paramedics or community paramedics caring for elderly patients. Case studies were excluded. All papers were screened by at least two authors and underwent a quality assessment, using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal checklists for cross sectional, qualitative, cohort, and randomised controlled trial studies to assess the methodological quality of the articles. A process of narrative synthesis was used to summarise the data.

resultsTen studies, across 13 articles, provided clear evidence that Community Paramedic programs had a positive impact on the health of patients and on the wider healthcare system. The role of a Community Paramedic was often a combination of four aspects: assessment, referral, education and communication. Limited evidence was available on the involvement of Community Paramedics in palliative and end-of-life care and in care delivery in residential aged care facilities. Observed challenges were a lack of additional training, and the need for proper integration and understanding of their role in the healthcare system.

conclusionsThe use of community paramedics in care delivery could be beneficial to both patients' health and the wider healthcare system. They already play a promising role in improving the care of our elderly population. With consistent adherence to the training curriculum and effective integration within the wider healthcare system, community paramedics have the potential to take on specialised roles in residential aged care facilities and palliative and end-of-life care.

Indexed as

AftercareDelivery of Health CarePatient DischargeAgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesHumansProspective StudiesRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicCommunity paramedicineElderlyEmergency medical techniciansHealth services for the agedNursing homePalliative careTerminal care

Identifiers

PMID33407406
PMCPMC7789625
OpenAlexW3119251762

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.