Activation Intervals for a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service in Japan

Ono, Yuko; Satou, Mariko; Ikegami, Yukihiro; Shimada, Jiro; Hasegawa, Arifumi; Tsukada, Yasuhiko; Nemoto, Chiaki; Shinohara, Kazuhiko; Tase, Choichiro

doi:10.1016/j.amj.2013.01.006

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In the future electronic transfer of measurements could be used to reduce typing errors, however, this does not eliminate the errors in measurement per se. The rate of cancelled or denied missions in the Finnish HEMS system is substantially higher than reported elsewhere [6,7,21,22]. Technical reliability of the service seems to be excellent and it contributed to the cancellation rate minimally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…Key findings of this study were that in the Finnish HEMS system a large proportion of missions are cancelled or denied, and a relatively small percentage of patients are transported by helicopter. We also found that the medical problem for HEMS dispatch differ from comparable systems [7,8,21].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…Trauma is indeed the most common cause of preventable death in the previously healthy [33]., and several studies have found HEMS to provide benefit to this specific patient group [34][35][36]. The second most common medical problem was OHCA, representing a large proportion compared to other systems [7,8,21]. A study in the Finnish population supports dispatching HEMS for OHCA [37]., but it remains largely unclear whether it incurs a survival benefit in this group [2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study in the Finnish population supports dispatching HEMS for OHCA [37]., but it remains largely unclear whether it incurs a survival benefit in this group [2]. Contrary to other comparable systems where stroke and myocardial infarction are common reasons for HEMS dispatch [7,8,21]., Finnish physician-staffed HEMS units are not usually dispatched for these missions, although encounter these patients when dispatched on different criteria, such as decreased level of consciousness. There is evidence suggesting that stroke and MI patients might stand to benefit from primary dispatch of HEMS [29,31].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…5). American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Scale (ASA-PS) classification was available for 91% (30,477) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance classification -made mandatory in the database in 2014 -was available for 90% (21,397) of the patients, the rest being recorded as "unknown". Most patients were classified in ASA-PS classes I and II (64%) and ECOG classes 0 and 1 (82%) ( Table 1).…”

Section: Patient Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The first seven years of nationally organized helicopter emergency medical services in Finland – the data from quality registry

Saviluoto

Björkman

Olkinuora³

et al. 2020

Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med

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Background: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) play an important role in prehospital care of the critically ill. Differences in funding, crew composition, dispatch criteria and mission profile make comparison between systems challenging. Several systems incorporate databases for quality control, performance evaluation and scientific purposes. FinnHEMS database was incorporated for such purposes following the national organization of HEMS in Finland 2012. The aims of this study are to describe information recorded in the database, data collection, and operational characteristics of Finnish HEMS during 2012-2018. Methods: All dispatches of the six Finnish HEMS units recorded in the national database from 2012 to 2018 were included in this observational registry study. Five of the units are physician staffed, and all are on call 24/7. The database follows a template for uniform reporting in physician staffed pre-hospital services, exceeding the recommended variables of relevant guidelines. Results: The study included 100,482 dispatches, resulting in 33,844 (34%) patient contacts. Variables were recorded with little or no missing data. A total of 16,045 patients (16%) were escorted by HEMS to hospital, of which 2239 (2%) by helicopter. Of encountered patients 4195 (4%) were declared deceased on scene. The number of denied or cancelled dispatches was 66,638 (66%). The majority of patients were male (21,185, 63%), and the median age was 57.7 years. The median American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Scale classification was 2 and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance class 0. The most common reason for response was trauma representing 26% (8897) of the patients, followed by out-of-hospital cardiac arrest 20% (6900), acute neurological reason excluding stroke 13% (4366) and intoxication and related psychiatric conditions 10% (3318). Blunt trauma (86%, 7653) predominated in the trauma classification.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%