An analysis of an air-ambulance program for children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric emergency medicine
• Aeromedical services research
• Healthcare operations analysis

Background:

• Air-ambulance services face scrutiny due to high operational costs.
• The value of these services is debated in healthcare rationalization.
• A comprehensive review of a pediatric air-ambulance program was warranted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cost, safety, and effectiveness of the air-ambulance program at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
• To analyze flight crew composition, types of trauma, and patient outcomes.
• To assess the program's role in providing timely specialized care for pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 392 pediatric aeroevacuations to CHEO over a 3-year period (1994-1997).
• Data collected included patient demographics, medical conditions, trauma types, response times, and travel times.
• Evaluation of safety, effectiveness, and cost-efficiency of the air-ambulance service.

Main Results:

• The program facilitated 392 pediatric aeroevacuations: 113 surgical (29%), 136 medical (35%), and 143 neonates (36%).
• Common surgical reasons included orthopaedic trauma (43%), general surgery (23%), and neurosurgery (22%).
• Average response time was 46 minutes, and average travel time was 25.59 minutes.

Conclusions:

• The CHEO air-ambulance program demonstrated safety and effectiveness in pediatric care.
• The service enabled earlier access to specialized medical interventions for critically ill or injured children.
• The findings support the continued value of air-ambulance services in pediatric emergency transport.