Impact of a 9-1-1-Integrated Mobile App on Bystander CPR: Implementation of PulsePoint in an Urban County
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background/Objectives: Early bystander CPR helps to restore perfusion and improves the likelihood of favorable survival and neurological outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). One strategy to improve bystander CPR is the use of crowd-sourcing mobile CPR applications such as PulsePoint, which notifies bystanders of nearby OHCA. In 2019, PulsePoint was deployed in an urban county. Prior to its deployment, bystander CPR rates were 42.9% in this county. This descriptive analysis seeks to analyze bystander intervention after PulsePoint implementation in an urban county. Methods: This retrospective observational study included all PulsePoint activations in Alachua County from June 2020 to September 2023. Patient characteristics and survey data were extracted from EMS patient care reports, hospital electronic medical records, and Pulsepoint dispatch and responder data. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze patient and responder characteristics, PulsePoint activation circumstances, and patient care. Results: Of 225 PulsePoint activations, 95 (42.2%) were confirmed OHCA. Among these, 54 (56.8%) received bystander CPR prior to EMS arrival. Out of 15 prehospital defibrillations, laypersons defibrillated 9 patients (60.0%). There was an average of 3.3 eligible PulsePoint responders within a 0.25-mile radius of the OHCA victim. A majority of PulsePoint survey respondents were formally trained in CPR and automated defibrillator use. Conclusions: The data from our urban EMS experience demonstrate that bystander CPR rates were higher after PulsePoint deployment (56.8%) than before. Our bystander CPR rate was also higher than the national average.
Source: Journal of Clinical Medicine
DOI: 10.3390/jcm15010005
Authors: Charles W. Hwang, Anthony J. Meyer, Ira Harmon, Brandon P. Climenhage, Eric M. Nordhues, Torben K. Becker
Institutions: University of Florida, University of Florida Health
Language: English
Subfield: Emergency Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,137
OpenAlex ID: W4417491819