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Background <p>The burden on healthcare systems from the utilisation of emergency transportation (ET) is increasing worldwide. Particularly care-dependent individuals and long-term care recipients are affected.</p> Objective <p>We aim to investigate the factors contributing to ET utilisation, particularly in these care-related groups and settings.</p> Methods <p>Using claims data on ET utilisation in conjunction with long-term care (LTC) insurance data, we identified 561,322 ET events from 2018–2022 in insured individuals of AOK Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) were calculated with the duration of insurance as time at risk. Negative binomial regression assessed factors influencing ET utilisation.</p> Results <p>ET utilisation remained stable over 5&#xa0;years, with an ASIR of 112.59 per 1000 insured person–years. High care dependency level correlates with higher ET rates, both in terms of IR and in the regression model. This correlation strengthens when combined with LTC settings involving formal caregivers, such as nursing homes and formal home care. Multimorbidity is suggested as a&#xa0;potential contributing factor, particularly for individuals with care levels&#xa0;4 and&#xa0;5, but did not fully explain the observed patterns.</p> Conclusion <p>Care dependency and professional care are strongly associated with increased ET utilisation. The findings suggest a&#xa0;need for structural improvements in LTC, clearer legal frameworks, and better competencies across all care providers, including enhanced training and education, to address unmet needs and reduce potentially avoidable ET events. Further research should explore these relationships in more depth to inform interventions aimed at relieving pressure on emergency services.</p>

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Association between long-term care setting and emergency transportation utilisation

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月12日

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  • Christian Buhtz,
  • Stephanie Heinrich,
  • Christian Walther,
  • Steffen Fleischer,
  • Gabriele Meyer

摘要

Background

The burden on healthcare systems from the utilisation of emergency transportation (ET) is increasing worldwide. Particularly care-dependent individuals and long-term care recipients are affected.

Objective

We aim to investigate the factors contributing to ET utilisation, particularly in these care-related groups and settings.

Methods

Using claims data on ET utilisation in conjunction with long-term care (LTC) insurance data, we identified 561,322 ET events from 2018–2022 in insured individuals of AOK Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Age-standardised incidence rates (ASIR) were calculated with the duration of insurance as time at risk. Negative binomial regression assessed factors influencing ET utilisation.

Results

ET utilisation remained stable over 5 years, with an ASIR of 112.59 per 1000 insured person–years. High care dependency level correlates with higher ET rates, both in terms of IR and in the regression model. This correlation strengthens when combined with LTC settings involving formal caregivers, such as nursing homes and formal home care. Multimorbidity is suggested as a potential contributing factor, particularly for individuals with care levels 4 and 5, but did not fully explain the observed patterns.

Conclusion

Care dependency and professional care are strongly associated with increased ET utilisation. The findings suggest a need for structural improvements in LTC, clearer legal frameworks, and better competencies across all care providers, including enhanced training and education, to address unmet needs and reduce potentially avoidable ET events. Further research should explore these relationships in more depth to inform interventions aimed at relieving pressure on emergency services.