@article{ref1,
title="The impact of helicopter emergency medical service night operations in South East England",
journal="Air Medical Journal",
year="2017",
author="Curtis, Leigh and Salmon, Mark and Lyon, Richard M.",
volume="36",
number="6",
pages="307-310",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: This study sought to assess the impact of a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) capable of night operations. <br><br>METHODS: This is a retrospective case review of all night HEMS missions attended by a charity air ambulance service in South East England over a 2-year period (October 1, 2013, to October 1, 2015). <br><br>RESULTS: During the 2-year trial period, the HEMS service undertook a total of 5,004 missions and attended to 3,728 patients. Of these, 1,373 missions, or 27.4% of the total HEMS activity, were night missions. Night missions increased from year 1 (n = 617) to year 2 (n = 756). A mean of 1.9 missions per night were conducted, resulting in the treatment of 1.3 patients per night. A higher proportion of patients were transported to a major trauma center at night (64% vs. 51%, χ(2) = 41.8, P <.0001). Weather conditions prevented HEMS from responding at night via air for 15% of the night operational hours. <br><br>CONCLUSION: A 2-year trial period of a night HEMS service in South East England showed the predicted activation rate, with a mean of 1.3 patients attended to per night. Patients transported to a major trauma center had a mean Injury Severity Score of 23. Further research is warranted to determine if the night HEMS service conveys a patient outcome benefit.<br><br>Copyright © 2017 Air Medical Journal Associates. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1067-991X",
doi="10.1016/j.amj.2017.06.005",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2017.06.005"
}