Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
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Rezar, R; Sandner, G; Heschl, S; Hallmann, B; Prause, G; Gemes, G.
Utilization of the advantages of a physician-staffed rescue helicopter in Austria. A retrospective analysis
NOTFALL RETTUNGSMED. 2017; 20(6): 495-500.
Doi: 10.1007/s10049-017-0312-8
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- Führende Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Gemes Geza
- Co-Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz
- Hallmann Barbara
- Heschl Stefan
- Prause Gerhard
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- Abstract:
- Background. Physician-staffed rescue helicopters are one of the most valuable resources in emergency medicine, so a deliberate dispatch system is of paramount importance. This retrospective study aims to determine how often the use of a helicopter was adequate at a single helicopter base in Austria. Methods. Retrospective data evaluation, interhospital transfer missions, and missions cancelled en route were excluded. A score comprising the three categories operation site, priority of a rapid transport, and medical treatment on-scene was generated to evaluate whether the utilization of the helicopter compared to a ground-based emergency physician vehicle or mountain rescue was beneficial. For patients admitted to a hospital, the on-scene diagnosis and final diagnosis were compared. Results. During a one-year time period, a total of 1043 missions were included. In 38% of the cases, no evidence of benefit of the helicopter-deployment was found, while 62% of the helicopter rescue missions were found to result in a comprehensible advantage generated by the helicopter disposition. On-scene diagnoses were found to be correct in 88% of the cases. Conclusion. We found that more than one third of the missions attended to by a rescue helicopter could have been resolved employing ground-based emergency physician systems or mountain rescue. The reasons for this problem and further measures to ensure procedural and outcome quality in airborne emergency medical systems need to be investigated.
- Find related publications in this database (Keywords)
- Helicopter emergency medical services
- Physician-staffed helicopters
- Indications of dispatch
- Diagnostic accuracy
- Quality control