Use of the autolaunch method of dispatching a helicopter.
BACKGROUND
Autolaunch is a method of dispatching whereby the dispatcher can send the helicopter to a scene, as opposed to traditional request-driven dispatch. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in patient outcomes when autolaunch was used. A 2-year period, July 1997 through June 1999, was studied.


METHODS
A case control design was used. A retrospective chart review included 17 autolaunch and 16 traditionally dispatched patients. Patients were matched using Injury Severity Scores, Glasgow Coma Scale, and age. Eight matched pairs were used for statistical analysis. Three research questions were answered.


RESULTS
The difference in time from accident to helicopter arrival was 3.64 minutes faster for autolaunch (statistical significance P =.336). Mortality data showed no statistical significance difference (P =.302). Intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stays were both decreased with the use of autolaunch, although not statistically significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
Sample size was small, making statistical significance difficult to achieve despite decreased length of stays and quicker time to the scene.


CONCLUSIONS
Although statistical significance was not found with the use of autolaunch, patient outcomes still were improved by this method. Information provided could be used by helicopter programs considering implementing autolaunch.
Berns
Kathleen S
KS
Mayo Medical Transport, Saint Marys Hospital, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Caniglia
Jeffery J
JJ
Hankins
Daniel G
DG
Zietlow
Scott P
SP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States