Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Amplitude-Integrated EEG in Infants at Risk of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Feasibility Study in Road and Air Transport in Western Australia
Published on: June 21, 2024
Higher energy prices are associated with diminished resources, performance and safety in Australian ambulance systems
Lawrence H Brown1, Taha Chaiechi, Petra G Buettner
1School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland. Lawrence.Brown@my.jcu.edu.au
Objective:
To evaluate the impact of changing energy prices on Australian ambulance systems.
Methods:
Generalised estimating equations were used to analyse contemporaneous and lagged relationships between changes in energy prices and ambulance system performance measures in all Australian State/Territory ambulance systems for the years 2000-2010. Measures included: expenditures per response; labour-to-total expenditure ratio; full-time equivalent employees (FTE) per 10,000 responses; average salary; median and 90th percentile response time; and injury compensation claims. Energy price data included State average diesel price, State average electricity price, and world crude oil price.
Results:
Changes in diesel prices were inversely associated with changes in salaries, and positively associated with changes in ambulance response times; changes in oil prices were also inversely associated with changes in salaries, as well with staffing levels and expenditures per ambulance response. Changes in electricity prices were positively associated with changes in expenditures per response and changes in salaries; they were also positively associated with changes in injury compensation claims per 100 FTE.
Conclusion:
Changes in energy prices are associated with changes in Australian ambulance systems' resource, performance and safety characteristics in ways that could affect both patients and personnel. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms of, and strategies for mitigating, these impacts. The impacts of energy prices on other aspects of the health system should also be investigated.
Related Concept Videos
Issues And Trends In Healthcare Delivery System
Cost Containment
Payment for healthcare services has historically promoted adoption of costly and often unnecessary or inefficient...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Pathophysiology of Cardiac Performance
Factors Affecting Respiration
The Availability Heuristic
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use