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Helicopter transport: help or hindrance?
Rebecca E Plevin1, Heather L Evans
1Department of Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. rplevin@uw.edu
Current Opinion in Critical Care
|October 12, 2011
Summary
Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) can improve survival for specific trauma patients, but careful patient selection is crucial. Trauma systems must assess resources to optimize HEMS use and justify costs and risks.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Trauma Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Traumatic injuries are a major cause of death and disability.
- Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) have been used for decades.
- Conflicting data exist on HEMS benefits in civilian trauma care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing data on the benefits of HEMS in civilian trauma systems.
- To address the ongoing debate regarding mortality benefit, cost-effectiveness, and safety.
- To provide recommendations for optimizing HEMS utilization.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing research on HEMS in trauma care.
- Analysis of studies on patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and safety.
- Synthesis of findings to inform triage and resource allocation.
Main Results:
- HEMS may improve mortality in specific trauma patient subgroups.
- Cost-effectiveness findings are mixed, but often positive.
- HEMS transport poses safety risks, but benefits may outweigh them.
Conclusions:
- Strict criteria are needed to determine appropriate HEMS use.
- Trauma systems must assess resources and needs for effective HEMS integration.
- Balancing costs and safety risks with patient benefits is essential for regional hospitals.
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