BACKGROUND: Our previous work demonstrated that use of ShotSpotter (SS), a gunfire detection system, and use of police department (PD) transport decreased response and transport time for gunshot wound (GSW) victims versus events with non-ShotSpotter (NSS). The purpose of this study was to evaluate transport trends and how they are linked to SS in the period of 2016-2021 in Camden, NJ.
METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective observational study. Demographics, response time, transport time, and clinical data were collected. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-squared test, and linear regression to correct for transport time and method of transport were used to compare outcomes (P < 0.05).
RESULTS: A total of 267 GSWs were included: 77 emergency medical technicians (EMS)-SS, 41 EMS-NSS, 116 PD-SS, and 33 PD-NSS. When comparing response from 2016 to 2021, PD improved from 4 to 2 min (P = 0.001). EMS improved from 6.4 min (EMS-NSS) and 4.5 min (EMS-SS) to 5 min (EMS- NSS) and 4 min (EMS-SS) (P = 0.281). In addition, PD transport times, 5 min (SS) and 4 min (NSS), were faster than EMS, 9 min (SS and NSS) (P < 0.001). Overall PD transport volume increased with a peak in 2020 (68.3%). There was also an increase in PD-NSS transport 4% to 37.9% (P < 0.001). EMS-SS transport decreased from 54.7% to 6.9% (P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of SS technology in a small urban setting continues to be associated with a higher rate of PD transport of GSW victims. The critical time of dispatch and transport for both PD and EMS has shown durable improvement.

Introduction Firearm homicide is a leading cause of violence-related death in the United States.Unfortunately, more than 80% of illegal firearm discharges are never reported to police by traditional means.ShotSpotterTM (Newark, California) is an acoustic firearm event detection system that can localize gunfire, prompting police, and subsequent emergency medical services (EMS) presence. Previously reported healthcare effects of acoustic detection are speculative in nature. We sought to investigate Hartford, Connecticut\'s experience with ShotSpotter​​​​​​​TM given its smaller size and broad coverage.  Methods The three trauma centers in Hartford (two for adults and one for pediatric) collaborated with the Hartford Police to review outcomes of victims with acoustically detected gunshots and compare them to those who went undetected. We performed a retrospective review of patients who presented with gunshot wounds (GSW) over a 30-month period, from January 1, 2016 to June 30, 2018. Victim location and acoustic detection were reconciled by the police department and hospital staff independently. Patients were individually matched for location, prehospital response, treatment durations, and hospital outcomes. Results Of 387 GSW, 157 (40.6%) presented via EMS and were included in the sample. Of these, 89 correlated to a detection event (56.7%) and 68 had no correlating event (43.3%). These two groups had no difference in prehospital treatment times, scene and transport duration, and injury severity. Further, the need for surgery or transfusion, lengths of stay, and disposition, including mortality, did not differ. Conclusions Despite limited previous reports demonstrating conferred benefits to acoustic detection of gunshots, Hartford\'s experience showed no benefit. The potential for such systems to act as early warning systems is evident but may depend on a city\'s resources, geography, and technology.