A new study from Örebro University reveals that a small group of patients accounts for a disproportionate share of ambulance calls in Örebro County. According to the research, which analyzed all ambulance calls in the county between 2020 and 2022, 8.4 percent of over 41,000 patients were classified as frequent users of ambulance services in Region Örebro län. This group accounted for nearly one third of all ambulance calls in the county.
Researcher Karin Hugelius, who specializes in crisis management and disaster medicine at Örebro University and also works as an ambulance nurse, noted that among those who use ambulances very frequently, there was an overrepresentation of mental health issues. "Among those who take ambulances very often, we could see an overrepresentation of mental health issues," said Hugelius.
Among those who take ambulances very often, we could see an overrepresentation of mental health issues,
The study further divided frequent users into two subgroups: frequent and high-frequency users. High-frequency users had twelve or more ambulance calls per year and represented approximately 0.5 percent of patients who used ambulances during the study period. Hugelius added that there were more patients in this group who, according to ambulance personnel assessments, could be referred to other forms of care.
The researchers did not find any clear pattern regarding when ambulance calls occurred in relation to time of day or primary care center opening hours. Hugelius stated that this suggests the issue is not related to whether regular psychiatric clinics are open or closed, indicating other mechanisms at play that the study could not fully explain.
this suggests the issue is not related to whether regular psychiatric clinics are open or closed, indicating other mechanisms at play that the study could not fully explain.