Table 2 EMS staff predictions of disposal versus actual disposal and categorised by diagnosis and job description

		Actual disposition				% (95% CI)
		Admitted	Discharged	Total		% (95% CI)
EMS staff predictions of disposition versus actual disposition
EMS staff predictions					Sensitivity	71.7 (65 to 78)
	Admit	134	48	182	Specificity	77.0 (71 to 82)
	Discharge	53	161	214	PPV	73.6 (67 to 80)
	Total	187	209	396	NPV	75.2 (69 to 81)
EMS staff predictions versus actual disposition by diagnosis*
Non-trauma					Sensitivity	75.9 (68 to 82)
EMS staff predictions	Admit	101	35	136	Specificity	67.6 (58 to 76)
	Discharge	32	73	105	PPV	74.3 (66 to 81)
	Total	133	108	241	NPV	69.5 (60 to 78)
Trauma					Sensitivity	57.1 (42 to 71)
EMS staff predictions	Admit	24	9	33	Specificity	86.6 (76 to 93)
	Discharge	18	58	76	PPV	72.7 (56 to 85)
	Total	42	67	109	NPV	76.3 (66 to 84)
EMS staff predictions versus actual disposition by job description
Paramedic					Sensitivity	76.8 (64 to 86)
Predictions of disposition	Admit	43	26	69	Specificity	64.4 (53 to 74)
	Discharge	13	47	60	PPV	62.3 (51 to 73)
	Total	56	73	129	NPV	78.3 (66 to 87)
EMT					Sensitivity	69.5 (61 to 77)
Predictions of disposition	Admit	91	22	113	Specificity	83.8 (77 to 89)
	Discharge	40	114	154	PPV	80.5 (72 to 87)
	Total	131	136	267	NPV	74.1 (67 to 80)

*46 patients were not included in the trauma/non-trauma analysis because there were insufficient computer data to categorise their complaint.
EMS, emergency medical service; EMT, emergency medical technician; NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value.

*46 patients were not included in the trauma/non-trauma analysis because there were insufficient computer data to categorise their complaint.
EMS, emergency medical service; EMT, emergency medical technician; NPV, negative predictive value; PPV, positive predictive value.