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A New Model for Evaluating the Impact of Major System Changes on Emergency Air Medical Scene Responses in a Regional EMS System

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Daniel W. Spaite ,
Toni Brophy ,
Terence D. Valenzuela ,
Harvey W. Meislin ,
Elizabeth A. Criss  and
Paul Hinsberg
Daniel W. Spaite*
Affiliation:
Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Toni Brophy
Affiliation:
Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Terence D. Valenzuela
Affiliation:
Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Harvey W. Meislin
Affiliation:
Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Elizabeth A. Criss
Affiliation:
Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Paul Hinsberg
Affiliation:
Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
*
Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona, 1501 North Cambell, Tucson, AZ 85724USA
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Abstract

Hypothesis:

Centralized dispatch data can provide useful information regarding the impact of major air medical system changes in a regional emergency medical services (EMS) system.

Methods:

Prospective evaluation of helicopter dispatch data from a centralized EMS dispatch agency. During the study period, four alterations in the total number of helicopters available to the system occurred (1,2,3,2,3). Statistical analysis consisted of Chi-Square with Yates' correction and comparison of sample proportions with p<.05 considered significant.

Results:

A total of 667 helicopter dispatches occurred during the 20-month study period from April 1989 through November 1990.

Conclusion:

Changes in dispatch patterns could result either from increased availability or alterations in the dispatchers' “threshold” for use based upon a perceived lessening of the need to save a “scarce” resource. Had the second possibility played a significant role, the rate of cancellation by ground personnel after arrival at the scene would be expected to have increased. Since this did not occur, it is likely that the increased use actually was a result of increased availability. In systems that dispatch helicopters prior to arrival of ground personnel, this method of evaluation may provide a useful model for analyzing the impact of major system alterations.

Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 7 , Issue 1 , March 1992 , pp. 19 - 23
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1992

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