Very First Response VFR
Improving Emergency Response for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Other Time-Critical Patients
The aim of this project is to improve emergency response for cardiac arrest and other time-critical patients by speeding up the arrival of help and the initiation of resuscitation, particularly in sparsely populated areas. The project will examine the need for a volunteer responder alert system, as well as the legal, economic, and technical prerequisites for its implementation in Finland. In addition, the project will produce a system proposal for Southeast Finland.
A volunteer responder alert system can save lives.
Integrating volunteer responders into the chain of emergency care
In Finland, approximately 5,000 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. Survival depends on minutes: rapid response and early defibrillation save lives, but access to help is often delayed, especially in sparsely populated areas. Volunteer responder alert systems, already in use in many countries, can significantly accelerate the initiation of resuscitation. The aim of this project is to assess the prerequisites for introducing such an operating model in Finland.
This project will produce a forecast of the regional and temporal incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients and other time-critical patients. In addition, an assessment of the legislative, economic, and technical conditions and requirements for the implementation of a volunteer responder alert system will be produced. Based on these, a concrete system proposal will be developed for Southeast Finland. The proposal will include implementation and operational models, the required integrations, and an evaluation of cost-effectiveness and integration into the emergency response and pre-hospital care chain.
Faster help reduces patient mortality, improves the allocation of emergency medical service resources, and lowers social costs.
The need to reduce delays in access to medical care has been recognized both nationally and internationally. Both the European Resuscitation Council guidelines and the national Current Care (Käypä hoito) guidelines in Finland emphasize the use of volunteer responders and digital solutions to support emergency medical services. Volunteer responder alert systems are already part of the emergency response chain in many European countries, whereas in Finland such systems have not yet been implemented.
More effective use of technology and the appropriate allocation of emergency medical services resources could improve access to care and survival rates for patients requiring emergency care, particularly in areas where first response activities are limited or non-existent.
Main Actions of the Project
Assessment of service needs and mapping of operating models: The need for a volunteer responder alert system will be determined through stakeholder collaboration. To assess service needs and frequency of use, a statistical forecast of the regional and temporal incidence of cardiac arrest and other time-critical patients will be conducted, with Southeast Finland serving as the pilot area. In addition, currently used operating models will be examined, and operating models from around the world will be reviewed to assess their suitability for the Finnish context.
Assessment of prerequisites: The feasibility of implementing a volunteer responder alert system will be assessed by examining the legal framework and the constraints imposed by legislation. A survey will be conducted to determine the prerequisites, potential scope, and willingness to participate in a volunteer responder network. Practical implementation options will be tested and compared using simulations and computer modeling, for example, by using the virtual population produced in the LEMS project.
Identification of technical solutions: Technical solutions and smartphone applications used in similar alarm systems worldwide will be examined. Based on market research, suitable companies will be identified for further networking and collaboration. The suitability of different systems and solutions will be evaluated and tested, with particular attention to the integration possibilities with existing information systems (e.g., patient information systems, emergency medical services management systems, emergency call center information systems) as well as data protection and security requirements.
Preparing a recommendation: A recommendation will be developed for the Wellbeing Services County of Kymenlaakso regarding a suitable system for the needs of Southeast Finland. The recommendation will include an overview of the legislative framework, costs, and financing, as well as systems and applications currently available on the market. In addition, the costs and benefits of different implementation options will be compared, and a preliminary plan for the system’s implementation and integration into the emergency call center and pre-hospital care chain will be outlined.
Communication and dissemination of results: The project’s activities and impacts will be actively communicated through various communication channels. The project’s final report, including its results, will be made publicly available on the project’s website. The project’s results will also be shared with all Finnish wellbeing services counties to ensure that the information generated in the project regarding the prerequisites for a volunteer responder alert system can be widely utilized across Finland.
Project Information
Very First Response (VFR) – Improving Emergency Response for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest and Other Time-Critical Patients
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