Summaries of Independent Scientist (K) Awards

Wang, Henry

Institution: University of Pittsburgh
Grant Title: Effect of Out-of-Hospital Endotracheal Intubation Errors
Grant Number: K08 HS013628
Duration: 5 years (2004-2009)
Total Award: $629,910

Project Description: The purpose of this project is to identify the patterns and effects of errors occurring in out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation (OOH-ETI) performed by paramedics. In Phase I of the study, the candidate will examine whether variations in emergency medical services (EMS) system structure, population setting, socioeconomic status, or patient racial and ethnic background are associated with the incidence of OOH-ETI errors. In the second phase, he will determine whether OOH-ETI errors affect patient outcomes or in-hospital resource utilization.

Career Goals: Dr. Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. His long term career goal is to develop expertise in health services and patient safety research, with an emphasis on the delivery of out-of-hospital (Emergency Medical Services) emergency care.

Progress to Date: Phase I has been completed, and the results have been published. (Wang, et al., Health Affairs 2006) Dr. Wang is enrolled in the Clinical Research Training Program, a curriculum designed to equip junior investigators with key skills in health services research. This program will result in a Masters Degree in Clinical Research in the Fall of 2006. He has also completed elective coursework in health services data resources and cost-effectiveness analysis.

Future Plans: Dr. Wang will continue with his clinical and teaching responsibilities. System and demographic factors associated with out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation errors will be identified. With the assistance of consultants from the University of Utah, Dr. Wang continues with efforts to link the PACE II data set, the Pennsylvania EMS data set, the Pennsylvania death registry, and the Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council's (PHC4) hospital admission data set.

Highlights and Specific Accomplishments:

• Awards:
  • Appointment to Editorial Board, Academic Emergency Medicine.
  • Outstanding Peer Reviewer, Annals of Emergency Medicine and Academic  Emergency Medicine.
  • Young Investigator Award, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, May 2005.
• Professional Societies:
  • National Association of EMS Physicians.
  • Society for Academic Medicine.
  • AcademyHealth.
• Peer Review Activities:
  • Annals of Emergency Medicine.
  • Academic Emergency Medicine.
  • Prehospital Emergency Care.

K-Generated Publications:

• Wang HE, Yealy DM. Out-of-Hospital Endotracheal Intubation—Where Are We? (Review) Annals of Emergency Medicine (in press).
• Wang HE, Lave JR, Sirio CA, Wang HE. Errors in Paramedic Endotracheal Intubation: Isolated Occurrences or Symptoms of Larger Problems? Health Affairs 2006 Mar-Apr;25(2):501-9.
• Wang HE, Yealy DM. How many attempts are required to accomplish out-of-hospital endotracheal intubation? Academic Emergency Medicine 2006 Apr;13(4):372-7.
• Wang HE, Davis DP, O'Connor RE, Domeier RM. Prehospital Drug-Assisted Intubation. (Position paper for the National Association of EMS Physicians.) Prehospital Emergency Care 2006 Apr-Jun;10(2):261-71.
• Wang HE, Yealy DM. Human Patients or Simulators for Teaching Endotracheal Intubation—Who Are We Fooling? (Letter). Academic Emergency Medicine 2006;13:232.
• Wang HE, Yealy DM. Out-of-Hospital Endotracheal Intubation—It's Time to Stop Pretending That Problems Don't Exist (Letter). Academic Emergency Medicine 2005;12:1245.
• Johnston BD, Seitz SR, Wang HE. National Limitations in Operating Room Training for Paramedic Student Endotracheal Intubation (abstract). Prehospital Emergency Care 2006;10;107.
• Wang HE, Min A, Hostler D, et al. Differential effects of out-of-hospital interventions on short- and long-term survival after cardiopulmonary arrest. Resuscitation 2005;67:69-74.
• Betz AE, Menegazzi JJ, Wang HE, et al. A randomized comparison of manual, mechanical and high-impulse chest compression in a porcine model of prolonged ventricular fibrillation. Resuscitation (in press).
• Tobiano PSC, Wang HE, McCausland JB, Hammer MD. A Case of Conversion Disorder Presenting as a Severe Acute Stroke. Journal of Emergency Medicine (in press).
• Dickison P, Hostler DP, Wang HE, Platt TE. Program Accreditation Effect on Paramedic Credentialing Examination Success Rate. Prehospital Emergency Care (in press).
• Kim JA, Vogel D, Wang HE, et al. A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Performed on the Floor and on a Moving Ambulance Stretcher. Prehospital Emergency Care 2006;10:68-70.
• DeVita MA, Schaefer J, Lutz J, Wang HE, Dongilli T. Improving medical emergency team (MET) performance using a novel curriculum and a computerized human patient simulator. Quality and Safety in Health Care 2005 Oct;14(5):326-31.

AHRQ Research Portfolios: Socio-economics of Health Care; Quality and Patient Safety; Training.
AHRQ Goals: Safety and Quality

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