Showing 23 results for Emergency
Morteza Ghaderi Azarkhavarani, Mohammadreza Khajeh Aminian, Milad Ahmadi Marzaleh, Mohammad Hosein Yarmohammadian, Seyed Masood Mousavi, Hassan Nouri Sari,
Volume 23, Issue 3 (11-2024)
Abstract
Background and purpose: The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is a centralized facility designed to coordinate disaster management activities across all phases of the disaster management cycle. EOCs play a vital role in facilitating efficient and effective responses by coordinating information and resources. This study aims to highlight the importance of establishing a standardized framework for EOCs in Iranian universities of medical sciences and to examine its key dimensions.
Methods: This study is a commentary article that compiles information from published literature on the framework of emergency operations centers. It focuses on two prominent global frameworks: the World Health Organization’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center Framework and the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Operations Center Guidelines. The study emphasizes the necessity of creating a standardized framework for emergency operations centers in Iranian universities of medical sciences.
Results: EOCs across different countries vary in terms of their missions, authorities, and resources. Consequently, the frameworks used in these centers are not uniform, and are largely shaped by the governance and regulatory requirements specific to each country.
Conclusion: A standardized framework, tailored to the specific needs and conditions of Iran, is essential for EOCs at universities of medical sciences. Such a framework could enhance the operational capabilities of these centers during incidents and disasters, improving their responsiveness and effectiveness.
Shahrzad Rasekhi, Sedighe Sadat Tabatabaei Far, Abdosaleh Jafari,
Volume 23, Issue 3 (11-2024)
Abstract
Background and purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the waiting time of patients referred to the emergency department and the factors affecting it in the country.
Methods: A search was conducted in the scientific databases PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science, Mag Iran and Civilica with the keywords waiting time, duration, emergency, Iran, etc. The Search period was up to 2024/02/06. After applying the search strategy, 26 studies were included in the study.
Results: The findings of the present review study (rapid review) showed that the average time from patient arrival in the emergency department to the first doctor's visit ranged from about 2 minutes to about 32 minutes, the average time from patient arrival in the emergency department to the first treatment ranged from 3.7 minutes to 262 minutes, the average time from request to the first test result was from 20.17 to 629.2 minutes, the average time from request to the first radiology result was from 5.85 to 1080 minutes, and the average time from request to the first ECG result was from 3.7 to 32.3 minutes. Also, the most important factors affecting the waiting time of patients referred to the emergency department included individual factors related to the patient, reason for referral, factors related to the hospital and emergency department, and factors related to human resources in the emergency department.
Conclusion: This study showed that patients' waiting time in the emergency department depends on various factors. To reduce it, improvements in triage, workforce management, the use of smart technologies, infrastructure enhancement, and patient education are recommended.
Alireza Rahimi,
Volume 24, Issue 2 (9-2025)
Abstract
Background and purpose: Pre-hospital Emergency Medical Services (EMS) play a pivotal role in managing life-threatening conditions. However, evidence suggests that the Iranian EMS system faces multifaceted challenges across human, managerial, and infrastructural dimensions. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive meta-synthesis to identify and analyze the challenges characterizing pre-hospital EMS in Iran, based on research evidence published between 2014 and 2025.
Methods: This study employed a meta-synthesis approach utilizing the seven-step framework by Sandelowski and Barroso (2006). A systematic search of major domestic and international databases using relevant keywords yielded 414 initial records. Following a rigorous screening process based on inclusion/exclusion criteria and quality appraisal, 25 articles were selected for the final analysis. Data were synthesized and categorized using thematic analysis.
Results: The findings revealed that the challenges facing the Iranian pre-hospital EMS can be categorized into six main themes: human resources, logistics and infrastructure, organizational and managerial barriers, socio-cultural issues, and educational deficits. A deeper analysis highlighted the multifaceted and intertwined nature of these obstacles. The results indicate that these challenges do not exist in isolation but are interconnected within a complex network of cause-and-effect relationships.
Conclusion: The findings confirm that the challenges within Iran's emergency system mirror global trends and overlap significantly with issues reported in other low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Addressing these problems requires a holistic and systemic approach that simultaneously targets human, logistical, organizational, and socio-cultural dimensions, while ensuring system preparedness for potential accidents and disasters.
