ArticleThe Journal of emergency medicine2023
Older Adult Frequent 9-1-1 Callers for Emergency Medical Services in a Large Metropolitan City: Individual- and System-Level Considerations.
Article in The Journal of emergency medicine, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.
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.
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.
Who cites it
4 citing papers in PubMed.
- A national description of emergency medical services patient utilization patterns.Health affairs scholar · 2026Article
- Disparities between two possible thresholds for frequent contacts to a Norwegian emergency medical communication centre: ≥5 contacts in one month vs. ≥12 contacts in three months.BMC emergency medicine · 2025Article
- "I surely don't call for fun": experiences of being a "frequent caller" to the Danish emergency helpline.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Prior emergency medical services utilization is a risk factor for in-hospital death among patients with substance misuse: a retrospective cohort study.BMC emergency medicine · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundHigh utilizers of 9-1-1 place a substantial burden on emergency medical services (EMS). Results of a retrospective review of records data of the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) showed a significant increase in older adult high utilizers of 9-1-1.
objectiveThe objective of this study was to explore individual- and system-level factors implicated in EMS use among older adults, and to provide system recommendations to mitigate overuse.
methodsA phenomenological study was conducted, drawing from LAFD EMS records between 2012 and 2016 to identify and contact high-utilizing patients older than 50 years, their family, agency representatives, and LAFD personnel. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded and a thematic analysis was completed.
resultsWe conducted in-depth interviews with 27 participants, including patients (n = 8), their families (n = 6), social service agency representatives (n = 3), and LAFD personnel (n = 10). The following cross-cutting themes emerged: nature of 9-1-1 calls, barriers to access, and changing the system. In addition, LAFD and social service agency representatives identified the role of EMS responders and social agency representatives. Patients and their families agreed that previous encounters and interactions with emergency care responders were relevant factors.
conclusionsThis study described reasons for 9-1-1 calls related to medical and social service needs, including mental health care. Our analysis offers insight from different stakeholders' perspectives on access to medical care and types of barriers that interfere with medical care. All groups shared recommendations to advance access to medical and mental health care.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.