Analysis of the rural medivac system in the Copper River area

A pattern of increasing use of aeromedical transport has been observed in the Copper River area of Central Alaska. A retrospective chart review was made to determine the reasons for these medivacs, and the outcome of the patients who were transferred by air ambulance from Cross Road Medical Center in Glennallen, Alaska. In this series there were no unexpected adverse outcomes. Additional or more accurate diagnoses were made on nearly one fourth of the patients. Ninety-two percent of those medivaced were hospitalized with 21 percent needing emergency surgery and 16 percent needing an ICU bed. All categories of patients showed benefit from transport to a higher level facility. There were no complications resulting from the transport.