Comparison of helicopter and ground emergency medical service: a retrospective analysis of a German rescue helicopter base.
BACKGROUND
In consideration of rising cost pressure in the German health care system, the usefulness of helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) in terms of time- and cost-effectiveness is controversially discussed. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether HEMS is associated with significantly decreased arrival and transportation times compared to ground EMS.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, we evaluated 1,548 primary emergency missions for time sensitive diagnoses (multiple trauma, traumatic brain and burn injury, heart-attack, stroke, and pediatric emergency) performed by a German HEMS using the medical database, NADIN, of the German Air Rescue Service. Arrival and transportation times were compared to calculated ground EMS times.


RESULTS
HEMS showed significantly reduced arrival times at the scene in case of heart-attack, stroke and pediatric emergencies. In contrast, HEMS and ground EMS showed comparable arrival times in patients with multiple trauma, traumatic brain and burn injury due to an increased flight distance. HEMS showed a significantly decreased transportation time to the closest centre capable of specialist care in all diagnosis groups (p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of the present study indicate the time-effectiveness of German air ambulance services with significantly decreased transportation times.
Trauma Department, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. mommsen.philipp@mh-hannover.de
Philipp
P
Mommsen
Nikolas
N
Bradt
Christian
C
Zeckey
Hagen
H
Andruszkow
Max
M
Petri
Michael
M
Frink
Frank
F
Hildebrand
Christian
C
Krettek
Christian
C
Probst
D000328:Adult; D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000552:Ambulances / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices