Thomas F, Wisham J, Clemmer T P, Orme J F, Larsen K G
Department of Life Flight, LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City, UT 84143.
West J Med. 1990 Jul;153(1):40-3.
We determined the differences in transport times and costs for patients transported by fixed-wing aircraft versus helicopter at ranges of 101 to 150 radial miles, where fixed-wing and helicopter in-hospital transports commonly overlap. Statistical analysis failed to show a significant difference between the trauma-care patients transported by helicopter (n = 109) and those transported by fixed-wing (n = 86) for age, injury severity score, hospital length of stay, hospital mortality, or discharge disability score. The times in returning patients to the receiving hospital by helicopter (n = 104) versus fixed-wing (n = 509) did not differ significantly. Helicopter transport costs per mile ($24), however, were 400% higher than those of fixed-wing aircraft with its associated ground ambulance transport costs ($6). Thus, helicopter transport is economically unjustified for interhospital transports exceeding 100 radial miles when an efficient fixed-wing service exists.
我们确定了在101至150径向英里范围内，使用固定翼飞机与直升机转运患者时在运输时间和成本上的差异，在此范围内固定翼和直升机的院内转运通常存在重叠。统计分析未能显示出直升机转运的创伤护理患者（n = 109）与固定翼转运的患者（n = 86）在年龄、损伤严重程度评分、住院时间、医院死亡率或出院残疾评分方面存在显著差异。直升机（n = 104）和固定翼（n = 509）将患者送回接收医院的时间没有显著差异。然而，直升机每英里的运输成本（24美元）比固定翼飞机及其相关地面救护车运输成本（6美元）高出400%。因此，当存在高效的固定翼服务时，对于超过100径向英里的院间转运，直升机运输在经济上是不合理的。
