Physician Engagement in EMS Transport Refusal Rates

Conditions

• Refusal of Transport

Eligibility Criteria

Sex

ALL

Age

18 Years - N/A

Healthy Volunteers

Not accepted

Interventions

• Physician Consultation — BEHAVIORAL
  Every other month will be randomized to either Physician Consultation or Standard of Care. During the months designated for Physician Consultation, direct communication between the patient and a designated physician by phone will be implemented when a patient refuses transport in cases where the EMS clinician feels that physician consultation is warranted for further guidance. The physician will attempt to address patient concerns and provide additional medical advice.
• Standard of Care — BEHAVIORAL
  Every other month will be randomized to either Physician Consultation or Standard of Care. During the months designated for Standard of Care, physician intervention will not be provided. For safety reasons, if physicians or EMS MEDIC clinicians feel that speaking with the patient is important to provide additional clinical benefit, they may do so without hesitation and can override the designated intervention month.

Study Details

The primary goal of this study is to find out if patients who speak with an EMS physician over the phone are less likely to refuse care compare to patients who do not speak with an EMS physician.

Key Dates

Start date

Apr 12, 2026

Status verified

Jul 2025

Primary completion

Oct 31, 2026

Completion

Nov 30, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment

250 participants (estimated)

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

• Experimental: Physician Consultation
  Mecklenburg EMS agency (MEDIC) crew chiefs (EMTs and/or paramedics) may decide, based on patient circumstances, to consult OMC for patients wishing to refuse care.
• Active Comparator: Standard of Care
  Refusal-of-care consultation not provided to patient

Primary Outcome Measure

Number of Patients Transported [ Time Frame: Day 1 ]

Central Contacts

• Stephen Tyler Constantine
  704-355-3181
  [email protected]

Locations (1)

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