Evaluating the Impact of Helicopter Transport Interval in Patient Discharge Disposition for Interfacility Transfers...

The health care industry accounts for 8.5% of US greenhouse gas emissions, with helicopter air ambulances (HAAs) contributing significantly. This study investigates the extent to which interfacility helicopter transfer interval affects patient outcomes, an essential consideration when optimizing flight paths.

We retrospectively analyzed adult HAA data from a large mid-Atlantic transport provider. Transport interval was defined as the time from dispatch to arrival at the receiving hospital. Patient diagnoses were categorized as cardiac, medical, neurological, surgical, and trauma. Discharge dispositions were grouped as home, hospice/morgue, and facility. Logistic regression analyzed discharge disposition as the dependent variable with transport interval and diagnostic category as independent variables.

Analysis of 2,626 interfacility transfers revealed a significant logistic regression model (χ² = 202.67, df = 10, P < .001), explaining 4% to 8% of discharge variability. Although transport interval was a predictor (χ² = 45.32, df = 2, P < .001), the odds ratios (0.995 and 0.991) indicated negligible impact on outcomes.

The weak association between transport interval and discharge outcomes suggests that small variations in interfacility transport interval could be allowed for when optimizing helicopter flight routes for efficiency. Optimization could reduce fuel consumption without negatively affecting patient outcomes.