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Poster 13 Appropriate helicopter utilization by EMS providers
POSTER 13
APPROPRIATE HELICOPTER UTILIZATION BY EMS PROVIDERS Debbie Nichols, RN Jane Wynn, RN Ernest Dunn, MD Ben Rodriquez, MD The helicopter has become an integral component of EMS in providing rapid transport of seriously i l l or injured patients. Appropriate use of air medical transport should be considered in any EMS system. The purpose of this study was to examine the appropriateness of helicopter transport in a regional EMS area. From 10/91 to 3/92, 100 scene response flights w e r e reviewed. These flights were requested by 33 different emergency providers in a 25 mile radius. Of the f l i g h t s , 27% involved females and 73% males. The average age of the patients was 31. Of the I00 patients transported, ]I expired in the ED, 8 died in the ICU, and the remaining 81 admitted. 69 of the 81 admitted had an average hospital stay of i0 days. 12 were discharged within 24 hours of admission. Flights reviewed would indicate that, 92% of the time, the helicopter was u t i l i z e d appropriately based on hospital admission criteria. 8% did not meet transport c r i t e r i a based on hospital admission. However, 92% of the patients discharged within 24 hours met other c r i t e r i a for EMS to activate the helicopter to the scene. Conclusion: Based upon the findings of this study, EMS in the regional area is triaging patients appropriately for helicopter transport.
The Journal of Air Medical Transport • October 1992
POSTER 14 U T I L I Z A T I O N of P R E D E S I G N A T E D L A N D I N G ZONES: A SURVEY of the C O M M O N W E A L T H of P E N N S Y L V A N I A . M.A. Whitehill, E. Davis, J. Reiser, E. Kompare, B. Morgan. STAT, Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, 230 M c K e e Place, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. INTRODUCTION: Predesignated landing zones allow for more rapid and efficient scene response for air medical services. Our e x p e r i e n c e in one local county found a d e c r e a s e in r e s p o n s e time of up to ten m i n u t e s to a "safe" landing zone s u b s e q u e n t to the i n i t i a t i o n of p r e d e s i g n a t i o n . The p u r p o s e of this study was to d e t e r m i n e the u t i l i z a t i o n of p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones on a statewide level. METHODOLOGY: A q u e s t i o n n a i r e was d e v e l o p e d and sent to the Emergency Medical Service D i r e c t o r in each of the sixtyseven counties in P e n n s y l v a n i a . The survey questioned the number and geographic distribution, recurrent safety inspections, coordinate confirmation and annual utilization of p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones. RESULTS: 41 (61%) respondents completed and r e t u r n e d the survey. Of the respondents, a large number (93%) had no formal p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing system. Most counties (90%) have less than five p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones; these u s u a l l y include the local hospital h e l i p a d s or community airports. None of the counties s u r v e y e d had any method of verifying local coordinates or conducting safety a s s e s s m e n t s on landing zones. Several counties (10%) expressed an interest in developing a landing zone program. CONCLUSION: Very few counties in this state u t i l i z e p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones. As the goal of air medical care is rapid transport, the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of this system on a regional and s t a t e w i d e level could significantly contribute to the optimal performance of the Trauma System. Copyright, 1992, Center for Emergency Medicine 79
APPROPRIATE HELICOPTER UTILIZATION BY EMS PROVIDERS Debbie Nichols, RN Jane Wynn, RN Ernest Dunn, MD Ben Rodriquez, MD The helicopter has become an integral component of EMS in providing rapid transport of seriously i l l or injured patients. Appropriate use of air medical transport should be considered in any EMS system. The purpose of this study was to examine the appropriateness of helicopter transport in a regional EMS area. From 10/91 to 3/92, 100 scene response flights w e r e reviewed. These flights were requested by 33 different emergency providers in a 25 mile radius. Of the f l i g h t s , 27% involved females and 73% males. The average age of the patients was 31. Of the I00 patients transported, ]I expired in the ED, 8 died in the ICU, and the remaining 81 admitted. 69 of the 81 admitted had an average hospital stay of i0 days. 12 were discharged within 24 hours of admission. Flights reviewed would indicate that, 92% of the time, the helicopter was u t i l i z e d appropriately based on hospital admission criteria. 8% did not meet transport c r i t e r i a based on hospital admission. However, 92% of the patients discharged within 24 hours met other c r i t e r i a for EMS to activate the helicopter to the scene. Conclusion: Based upon the findings of this study, EMS in the regional area is triaging patients appropriately for helicopter transport.
The Journal of Air Medical Transport • October 1992
POSTER 14 U T I L I Z A T I O N of P R E D E S I G N A T E D L A N D I N G ZONES: A SURVEY of the C O M M O N W E A L T H of P E N N S Y L V A N I A . M.A. Whitehill, E. Davis, J. Reiser, E. Kompare, B. Morgan. STAT, Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, 230 M c K e e Place, Suite 500, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. INTRODUCTION: Predesignated landing zones allow for more rapid and efficient scene response for air medical services. Our e x p e r i e n c e in one local county found a d e c r e a s e in r e s p o n s e time of up to ten m i n u t e s to a "safe" landing zone s u b s e q u e n t to the i n i t i a t i o n of p r e d e s i g n a t i o n . The p u r p o s e of this study was to d e t e r m i n e the u t i l i z a t i o n of p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones on a statewide level. METHODOLOGY: A q u e s t i o n n a i r e was d e v e l o p e d and sent to the Emergency Medical Service D i r e c t o r in each of the sixtyseven counties in P e n n s y l v a n i a . The survey questioned the number and geographic distribution, recurrent safety inspections, coordinate confirmation and annual utilization of p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones. RESULTS: 41 (61%) respondents completed and r e t u r n e d the survey. Of the respondents, a large number (93%) had no formal p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing system. Most counties (90%) have less than five p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones; these u s u a l l y include the local hospital h e l i p a d s or community airports. None of the counties s u r v e y e d had any method of verifying local coordinates or conducting safety a s s e s s m e n t s on landing zones. Several counties (10%) expressed an interest in developing a landing zone program. CONCLUSION: Very few counties in this state u t i l i z e p r e d e s i g n a t e d landing zones. As the goal of air medical care is rapid transport, the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of this system on a regional and s t a t e w i d e level could significantly contribute to the optimal performance of the Trauma System. Copyright, 1992, Center for Emergency Medicine 79