Each year, millions of Americans call 911 for time-sensitive issues that don't require Emergency Medical Services (EMS). In need of medical help, these callers may treat 911 as an entry point into the healthcare system, yet an ambulance to the emergency department can harm both their own long-term health and the health of others. In a field experiment in Washington, DC, the investigators randomly assign nurses directly into 911 calls in order to triage low-acuity calls. While other 911 reforms have denied callers access to alternative resources, this effort reforms 911 by offering appropriate care.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6,053
Triage nurse joins 911 call
Triage nurse does not join 911 call (business as usual)
Office of Unified Communications
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
Ambulance dispatch
Ambulance is dispatched in response to the 911 call
Time frame: During or immediately subsequent to call
Ambulance transport
Caller is transported in dispatched ambulance
Time frame: During or immediately subsequent to call
ED visit, 24 hours
Emergency department visit within 24 hours
Time frame: 24 hours
ED visit, 6 months
Emergency department visit with 6 months
Time frame: 6 months
Primary care visit, 24 hours
Primary care visit within 24 hours
Time frame: 24 hours
Primary care visit, 6 months
Primary care visit within 6 months
Time frame: 6 months
911 use, 24 hours
Whether caller made subsequent calls to 911 within 24 hours
Time frame: 24 hours
911 use, 6 months
Whether caller made subsequent calls to 911 within 6 months
Time frame: 6 months
Health expenditures
Total dollars and log-transformed dollars of Medicaid health expenditures
Time frame: 6 months
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