RE: FLIGHTS VS "TRANSPORTS"

[Johansen Knut I <Knut.I.Johansen@unimed.sintef.no>]

This topic is currently under study in Norway. 9 of our 15 locations have
cars at their disposal. The same personell operate ground and air vehicle.
Practice patterns differ between locations, ground transport is in the range
10 to 50 percent of total. I think the question deciding is: Should we have
AIR-borne service or should we be able to meet the need for prehospital
treatment when helicopter is not suited?

So far our conclusions are that patients are similar (ICD10, severity of
condition by NACA, age, sex), so is the number of lifesaving missions and
life-years gained.

Two major pitfalls are observed: cars may be used in missions where there
really is no need for ALS, and the use of ground transport may cause delayed
response to serious conditions in more remote areas. The last point is
crucial here where air ambulance is expected to better the access to medical
treatment in remote areas (compensate for long distances to hospital).
Ground transport used excessively in urban settings will make a menace in
this regard.

best wishes
Knut Johansen
SINTEF Unimed
Norway

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