Emergency response with lights and sirens to patients with a suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and a do-not-attempt-resuscitation order in the hospital record: a one-year observational study
Given that physician-issued DNAR orders are present in almost one-sixth of suspected OHCA dispatches, workflow improvement around documentation access is warranted. Ensure your local protocol mandates that these orders are immediately visible to dispatchers and all prehospital teams before arrival. Do not assume the order will be found upon scene arrival; proactive system integration is key.
This observational study analyzed a year's worth of emergency dispatches concerning suspected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in patients with documented physician-issued Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) orders. The authors found that these crucial records were present in nearly one in six such dispatches, indicating a significant volume of potential resource conflict points. The core argument revolves around the current systemic failure to make these patient autonomy directives readily available to all prehospital personnel, specifically mentioning dispatchers. This highlights a tangible workflow gap where critical information regarding resuscitation status is not universally accessible at the point of initial emergency contact. Improving this accessibility is framed as essential for respecting patient wishes and optimizing resource utilization during high-stress events.