13-government-services-2013-chapter9

Box 9.17 Response times
‘Response times’ (as illustrated below) is defined as the time taken between the arrival
of the first responding ambulance resource at the scene of an emergency in code 1
situations and the initial receipt of the call for an emergency ambulance at the
communications centre.
Receive
call
Call taking
time
Response times are calculated at the 50th and 90th percentile — the time within which
50 per cent and 90 per cent of the first responding ambulance resources arrive at the
scene of an emergency in code 1 situations, respectively.
Emergency responses are categorised by an assessment of the severity of the medical
problem:
• code 1 — responses to potentially life threatening situations using warning devices
• code 2 — responses to acutely ill patients (not in life threatening situations) where
attendance is necessary but no warning devices are used.
Short or reducing response times suggest the adverse effects on patients and the
community of emergencies requiring ambulance services are reduced.
Data quality information for this indicator is under development.
Response time data need to be interpreted with care, because performance is not
directly comparable across jurisdictions. There are many factors that influence
response times including:
• land area, and population size and density — data calculated on a state-wide
basis for some jurisdictions represent responses to urban, rural and remote areas,
while others include urban centres only
• the dispersion of the population (particularly rural/urban population
proportions), topography, road/transport infrastructure and traffic densities
• crewing configurations, response systems and processes, and travel distances —
for example, some jurisdictions include responses from volunteer stations (often
in rural areas) where turnout times are generally longer because volunteers are
on call as distinct from being on duty.
9.50 REPORT ON
GOVERNMENT
SERVICES 2013
Dispatch
ambulance
Turnout
time
Mobilise
ambulance
Response time
Travel
time
Arrive at
scene
Treatment
time
Depart
scene
Transport
time
Arrive at
medical
care
Hospital
turn
around
time
Clear case