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The impact of a new regional air ambulance service on a large general hospital

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Jenkinson, E., Currie, A. and Bleetman, A.. (2006) The impact of a new regional air ambulance service on a large general hospital. Emergency Medicine Journal, Vol.23 (No.5). pp. 368-371. ISSN 1472-0205

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Abstract

Background: Helicopter air ambulance crews are influenced in their selection of the destination hospital for their patients by several factors including: distance from the scene; facilities, on site specialties, and senior cover of the receiving hospital; and the proximity of the helicopter landing area to the emergency department (ED). Only a limited number of hospitals have landing sites adjacent to the ED from which patients can be taken directly into the department (primary landing sites). Helicopter crews will often elect to over fly hospitals that do not have primary landing sites because secondary land transfers will add delays in delivering patients. Birmingham Heartlands Hospital has an elevated helideck adjacent to the ED. In October 2003, the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) service was launched; the hospital sits on the western periphery of the area served by the service.

Methods: Prospective data was collated on all patients brought by WNAA to Heartlands Hospital between 1 October 2003 and 31 August 2004.

Results: In the 10 month period after the launch of the service, the helicopter delivered 83 patients to the ED; 74 of these were "off patch". This additional workload generated 163 ward days, 19 operative procedures, and 85 intensive care unit, high dependency unit, or coronary care unit days. The direct costs of this additional workload approached £160 000.

Conclusions: In future discussions on the cost effectiveness of air ambulances, it will be important to consider both the direct and indirect costs to the receiving hospitals arising from the redistribution of emergency workload.

Abbreviations: ED, emergency department; HDU, high dependency unit; HEMS, helicopter emergency medical service; ICU, intensive care unit; ISS, injury severity score; WNAA, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance; WMCAA, West Midlands County Air Ambulance.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): Helicopter ambulances -- Great Britain, Emergency vehicles -- Great Britain, Emergency medicine -- Great Britain, Health facilities -- Business management, Health facilities -- Finance
Journal or Publication Title: Emergency Medicine Journal
Publisher: BMJ Group
ISSN: 1472-0205
Official Date: 1 May 2006
Volume: Vol.23
Number: No.5
Page Range: pp. 368-371
Identification Number: 10.1136/emj.2005.027045
Status: Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version: Open Access
References:

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URI: http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/642

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