A program profile of air medical transport in regional Central Queensland, Australia

Edwards, Kristin H., Franklin, Richard C., Aitken, Peter, Elcock, Mark, and Edwards, Mark Terrell (2019) A program profile of air medical transport in regional Central Queensland, Australia. Air Medical Journal, 38 (6). pp. 431-436.

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Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of air medical patients and referral patterns in Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service (CQHHS).

Methods: Analysis of air medical transport from January 2010 to December 2014. Air medical tasks within the local health service boundary were included. All patients transported on rotor or fixed wing aircraft for medical purposes were included. Patterns of air medical tasks in and out of the region by referring and receiving location, aircraft type, flight priority, time of day, month, sex, age, illness, and referral indexes were analyzed.

Results: There were 11,456 air ambulance tasks in CQHHS region during the study period, an average of 2,291 retrievals per annum or 191 per month. Frequent referrals were to a tertiary facility, located 800 km across economic and political boundaries. Referral pattern indexes highlight a net patient flow of 1.2 to 1. Cardiology was the largest illness category (24%). Males represented 59% overall as well as patients 66 years and older (33%). Fixed wing aircraft carried out 87% of the tasks with a frequent response time of 6 to 24 hours.

Conclusion: Air medical transports are an integral part of the health system in Central Queensland communities with vast geographic distances. Identifying regional referral pattern rates and ratios aid in the planning of resource allocation.

Item ID: 61688
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1532-6497
Copyright Information: © 2019 Air Medical Journal Associates
Date Deposited: 29 Jan 2020 23:29
FoR Codes: 32 BIOMEDICAL AND CLINICAL SCIENCES > 3202 Clinical sciences > 320207 Emergency medicine @ 100%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920408 Health Status (e.g. Indicators of Well-Being) @ 100%
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