Helicopter interfacility transport of pediatric trauma patients: Are we overusing a costly resource?
Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) offer critical medical interfacility transfer service. While using HEMS typically results in faster transport time in comparison to using ground ambulances, HEMS also presents greater risk to the patient and flight crew, and it is more costly. Using a 4-year retrospective study, the authors seek to identify how frequently pediatric patients (ages 0-18) who are interfacility transported to a Level 1 pediatric trauma center (PTC) receive a time-sensitive intervention. 207 cases were identified and evaluated; the results showed that 43% of patients (90 cases) received a time-sensitive intervention. Of the remaining 117 cases, 81% were within 120 miles of the PTC and 49% were within 60 miles. The authors conclude that HEMS is overused for interfacility transfer and that the patients in the study could have been transported by ground ambulance without detriment.
- Record URL:
- Record URL:
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Availability:
- Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/21630755
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Authors:
- Meyer, Michael T
- Gourlay, David M
- Weitze, Keith C
- Ship, Matthew D
- Drayna, Patrick C
- Werner, Cinda
- Lerner, E Brooke
- Publication Date: 2016-2
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: References;
- Pagination: pp 313-317
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Serial:
- Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
- Volume: 80
- Issue Number: 2
- Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
- ISSN: 2163-0755
- EISSN: 2163-0763
- Serial URL: http://journals.lww.com/jtrauma/
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Ambulances; Costs; Emergency medical services; Emergency vehicles; Helicopter transportation; Injuries; Patients; Transfers
- Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Aviation; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Security and Emergencies;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01597344
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Apr 27 2016 9:55AM