Bosnia and Kosovo: aeromedical evacuation in the initial stages of deployment.
METHODS
A comparative analysis of aeromedical evacuation (AE) from operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo during the first months of deployment was performed in order to determine how medical assets were utilized and to explore the potential for multi-national cooperation.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of casualties evacuated and aircraft utilization during the first 4 mo of both operations and the first year of deployment to Operation Joint Endeavor (Bosnia-Herzegovina) was performed.


RESULTS
Categories of casualties evacuated (in accordance with international ICD codes) were compiled, and most frequent diagnoses of patients evacuated, average patient load, and frequency of critical care team transport were determined.


CONCLUSIONS
To increase cooperation among multi-national forces deployed to the same operation, a database can be established with numbers and diagnoses of casualties evacuated. Trended data can then be used to tailor AE forces to meet both medical needs and multi-national operation requirements.
Ternus
M P
MP
School of Nursing, Auburn University Montgomery, AL 36124-4023, USA. mternus@mickey.aum.edu
D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000401:Aircraft; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015022:Yugoslavia