TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2002//
TI  - Injury mortality following the loss of air medical support for rural interhospital transport
JO  - Academic emergency medicine
A1  - Mann, N. Clay
A1  - Pinkney, Kerrie A.
A1  - Price, Daniel D.
A1  - Rowland, Donna J.
A1  - Arthur, Melanie
A1  - Hedges, Jerris R.
A1  - Mullins, Richard J.
SP  - 694
EP  - 698
VL  - 9
IS  - 7
N2  - OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated variation in mortality among interfacility transfers three years before and after discontinuation of a rotor-wing transport service. METHODS: A retrospective cohort assessment was conducted among severely injured patients transferred from four rural hospitals to a single tertiary center in regions with continued versus discontinued rotor-wing service. Thirty-day mortality following discharge from the receiving tertiary facility served as the primary outcome measure. RESULTS: Discontinuation of rotor-wing transport decreased interfacility transfers and increased transfer time. Transferred patients were four times more likely to die after (compared with before) rotor-wing service was discontinued (p = 0.05). No difference was noted in the region with continued rotor-wing service [odds ratio (OR) = 0.53, p = 0.47]. CONCLUSIONS: Injury mortality increased with loss of air transport for interfacility transfer in a rural area.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1069-6563
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -