Original contribution
Is the flight physician needed for helicopter emergency medical services?

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0196-0644(86)80015-4Get rights and content

The question of whether physicians are cost effective in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) transport remains an unresolved issue. During a four-month study period, all physician-specific contributions to medical care were recorded by means of a questionnaire that was completed by the flight physician and the flight nurse after each flight. In the judgment of the nurse, the flight physician made a unique and important contribution to the care of the patient in 38 of 174 flights (22%) completed during the study. Judgment, the most common contribution, was cited on 29 flights (17%). Both skill and judgment were contributed on seven additional flights (4%), and skill alone on only two flights (1%). Judgment was exercised most frequently in making diagnoses, initiating critical medical treatments, and determining destination. The cost to this program of providing physicians is approximately $85,000 per year, or 7% of an annual budget of approximately $1.2 million. Flight physicians make a substantial and important contribution to patient care in HEMS operations, exercising critical judgment regarding diagnosis, medical treatment, and disposition in 22% of transports. The benefits of this contribution far outweigh the 7% program cost.

References (10)

  • RheeKJ et al.

    Therapeutic intervention scoring as a measure of appropriateness of helicopter emergency medical services

    Ann Emerg Med

    (1986)
  • CrowleyR et al.

    An economical and proved helicopter program for transporting the emergency critically ill and injured patient in Maryland

    J Trauma

    (1973)
  • ClevelandH et al.

    A civilian air emergency service: A report on its development. Technical aspects and experience

    J Trauma

    (1976)
  • BaxtW et al.

    The impact of aerocraft aeromedical emergency care service on trauma mortality

    JAMA

    (1983)
  • CordellW et al.

    Lifeline: A physician staffed helicopter medical emergency service in Indiana

    J Indiana State Med Assoc

    (1980; Oct)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (54)

  • Effect of Helicopter Transportation of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients on Mortality and Functional Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

    2022, Air Medical Journal
    Citation Excerpt :

    The net transport times are comparable for helicopter transport and direct ambulance transport facilitated with the provision of an emergency physician. It may not be cost-effective to engage a physician in the flight rescues.21-23 Air medical transport can have adverse events relating to communication errors and equipment failures occurring as high as 30%.18

View all citing articles on Scopus

Presented at the University Association for Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, May 1985.

View full text