Using a Quality Framework to Explore Air Ambulance Patients’ Journey Outcomes in Central Queensland, Australia

Edwards, Kristin H., Franklin, Richard C., Jones, Rhondda, Kuhnert, Petra M., and Khanna, Sankalp (2022) Using a Quality Framework to Explore Air Ambulance Patients’ Journey Outcomes in Central Queensland, Australia. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 38 (1). pp. 57-64.

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Abstract

Introduction: In Australia, aeromedical retrieval provides a vital link for rural communities with limited health services to definitive care in urban centers. Yet, there are few studies of aeromedical patient experiences and outcomes, or clear measures of the service quality provided to these patients.

Study Objective: This study explores whether a previously developed quality framework could usefully be applied to existing air ambulance patient journeys (ie, the sequences of care that span multiple settings; prehospital and hospital-based pre-flight, flight transport, after-flight hospital in-patient, and disposition). The study aimed to use linked data from aeromedical, emergency department (ED), and hospital sources, and from death registries, to document and analyze patient journeys.

Methods: A previously developed air ambulance quality framework was used to place patient, prehospital, and in-hospital service outcomes in relevant quality domains identified from the Institutes of Medicine (IOM) and Dr. Donabedian models. To understand the aeromedical patients’ journeys, data from all relevant data sources were linked by unique patient identifiers and the outcomes of the resulting analyses were applied to the air ambulance quality framework.

Results: Overall, air ambulance referral pathways could be classified into three categories: Intraregional (those retrievals which stayed within the region), Out of Region, and Into Region. Patient journeys and service outcomes varied markedly between referral pathways. Prehospital and in-hospital service variables and patient outcomes showed that the framework could be used to explore air ambulance service quality.

Conclusion: The air ambulance quality framework can usefully be applied to air ambulance patient experiences and outcomes using linked data analysis. The framework can help guide prehospital and in-hospital performance reporting. With variations between regional referral pathways, this knowledge will aid with planning within the local service. The study successfully linked data from aeromedical, ED, in-hospital, and death sources and explored the aeromedical patients’ journeys.

Item ID: 76915
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1945-1938
Keywords: air ambulance, health care quality, mortality, patient outcome assessment, prehospital emergency care
Copyright Information: © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine.
Date Deposited: 30 Nov 2022 08:45
FoR Codes: 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320224 Rural clinical health @ 100%
SEO Codes: 20 HEALTH > 2001 Clinical health > 200105 Treatment of human diseases and conditions @ 100%
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