Retrospective comparative analysis of two medical evacuation systems for Ukrainian patients affected by war.

INTRODUCTION: Coordinated medical evacuations represent an important strategy for emergency response when healthcare systems are impaired by armed conflict, particularly for patients diagnosed with life-threatening conditions such as cancer. In this study, we compare the experiences of two parallel medical evacuation systems developed to meet the medical needs of Ukrainians affected by war. METHODS: This retrospective study compared outcomes of two medical evacuation systems, developed by the European Union Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) and Supporting Action for Emergency Response in Ukraine (SAFER Ukraine) collaborative, in the first 10 months after the war's intensification in Ukraine (February 24 to December 21, 2022). Each groups' respective registries served as data sources. Patient demographics and allocation data were summarized descriptively. Median time for patient referral were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The ERCC pathway evacuated 1385 patients (median age: 36 [0 - 85] years) to 16 European countries; 78.7 % (n = 1091) suffered from trauma-related injuries and 13.4 % (n = 185) from cancer. SAFER Ukraine evacuated 550 patients (median age: 9 [0 - 22] years) to 14 European and North American countries; 97.1 % (n = 534) were children diagnosed with cancer or blood disorders. The median evacuation time for the SAFER Ukraine cohort was shorter than the ERCC cohort (p < 0.001), though comparable (six versus seven days). CONCLUSION: The ERCC and SAFER Ukraine collaborative successfully developed medical evacuation pathways to meet the needs of Ukrainian patients impacted by war. System comparison provides opportunity to identify strategies for parallel system harmonization and a pragmatic example of how to anticipate support of these patients in future armed conflicts.

Cross-National Strategic Aeromedical Evacuation at the European Air Transport Command.

INTRODUCTION: The European Air Transport Command (EATC) is a seven-nation integrated command. One of its core capabilities is strategic aeromedical evacuation (AE). During the global COVID-19 pandemic and Ukrainian crisis, EATC proved that acting in concert is a valuable, effective, and reliable option.METHODS: By pooling and sharing aircraft and personnel, EATC has privileged access to a diverse fleet and pool of experts. Cooperation is based on a common set of rules and regulations, which ensures that EATC can address any problem with expertise.RESULTS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1060 COVID-19-positive patients were transported in 198 missions, with neither death nor disease transmission reported during those strategic AE flights. EATC transferred 986 military cases, mostly routine priority (91.4%); the other 74 cases were civilians, who were transported in 17 missions, with 81.1% categorized as urgent. During the Ukrainian crisis, 251 patients were transported, 112 military and 139 civilians, including 30 children. Among the recorded injuries were cerebrocranial, abdominal, and chest injuries, as well as fractures (180) and amputations (48) of the extremities.DISCUSSION: EATC is recognized as a center of expertise within the AE community, where interoperability and harmonization of concepts are key to safety and success. Cross-national missions, where a patient is evacuated by an aircraft and medical crew provided by another nation, offer maximum flexibility. Complex situations, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian crisis, have shown that multinational cooperation is not only achievable but also provides robust, effective, and reliable solutions for AE in particular.Fiorini A, Vermeltfoort R, Dulaurent E, Hove MG, Borsch M. Cross-national strategic aeromedical evacuation at the European Air Transport Command. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2024; 95(9):709-715.

Transport of Patients With High-Consequence Infectious Diseases: Development of European Capacity in Norway.

Infection of Western aid workers with Ebola virus disease during the 2014-2016 West African outbreak demonstrated the need for medical evacuation to high-level isolation units in Europe and the United States. In Norway, an ad hoc preparedness team was established for aeromedical evacuation in case of need. In October 2014, this team transported an infected aid worker from the military section of Oslo Airport to Oslo University Hospital. To maintain and strengthen the capacity for domestic ambulance transport on the ground and in the air, the Norwegian Medical Emergency Response Team for High Consequence Infectious Diseases (in Norway known as "Nasjonalt medisinsk utrykningsteam for høyrisikosmitte"), or NORTH, was established as a permanent service in 2017. Recognizing the expertise of this domestic team, Norway was subsequently entrusted with the task of enhancing the European aeromedical transport capacity for high-consequence infectious diseases and establishing the Norwegian rescEU Jet Air Ambulance for Transport of Highly Infectious Patients, or NOJAHIP, in 2022. In this case study, we present experiences and lessons learned from these 2 services and discuss how they can be further developed.

Implications of interhospital patient transfers for emergency medical services transportation systems in the Netherlands: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES: Interhospital patient transfers have become routine. Known drivers are access to specialty care and non-clinical reasons, such as limited capacity. While emergency medical services (EMS) providers act as main patient transfer operators, the impact of interhospital transfers on EMS service demand and fleet management remains understudied. This study aims to identify patterns in regional interhospital patient transfer volumes and their spatial distribution, and to discuss their potential implications for EMS service demand and fleet management. DESIGN: A retrospective study was performed analysing EMS transport data from the province of Drenthe in the Netherlands between 2013 and 2019 and public hospital listings. Yearly volume changes in urgent and planned interhospital transfers were quantified. Further network analysis, including geomapping, was used to study how transfer volumes and their spatial distribution relate to hospital specialisation, and servicing multihospital systems. Organisational data were considered for relating transfer patterns to fleet changes. SETTING: EMS in the province of Drenthe, the Netherlands, 492 167 inhabitants. PARTICIPANTS: Analyses are based on routinely collected patient data from EMS records, entailing all 248 114 transports (137 168 patients) of the Drenthe EMS provider (2013-2019). From these interhospital transports were selected (24 311 transports). RESULTS: Interhospital transfers represented a considerable (9.8%) and increasing share of transports (from 8.6% in 2013 to 11.3% in 2019). Most transfers were related to multihospital systems (47.3%, 11 509 transports), resulting in a considerable growth of planned EMS transports (from 2093 in 2013 to 3511 in 2019). Geomapping suggests increasing transfer distances and diminishing resource efficiencies due to lacking follow-up rides. Organisational data clarify how EMS fleets were adjusted by expanding resources and reorganising fleet operation. CONCLUSIONS: Emerging interhospital network transfers play an important role in EMS service demand. Increased interhospital transport volumes and geographical spread require a redesign of current EMS fleets and management along regional lines.

Mapping the processes and information flows of a prehospital emergency care system in Rwanda: a process mapping exercise.

OBJECTIVE: A vital component of a prehospital emergency care system is getting an injured patient to the right hospital at the right time. Process and information flow mapping are recognised methods to show where efficiencies can be made. We aimed to understand the process and information flows used by the prehospital emergency service in transporting community emergencies in Rwanda in order to identify areas for improvement. DESIGN: Two facilitated process/information mapping workshops were conducted. Process maps were produced in real time during discussions and shared with participants for their agreement. They were further validated by field observations. SETTING: The study took place in two prehospital care settings serving predominantly rural and predominantly urban patients. PARTICIPANTS: 24 healthcare professionals from various cadres. Field observations were done on 49 emergencies across both sites. RESULTS: Two maps were produced, and four main process stages were described: (1) call triage by the dispatch/call centre team, (2) scene triage by the ambulance team, (3) patient monitoring by the ambulance team on the way to the health facility and (4) handover process at the health facility. The first key finding was that the rural site had multiple points of entry into the system for emergency patients, whereas the urban system had one point of entry (the national emergency number); processes were otherwise similar between sites. The second was that although large amounts of information were collected to inform decision-making about which health facility to transfer patients to, participants found it challenging to articulate the intellectual process by which they used this to make decisions; guidelines were not used for decision-making. DISCUSSION: We have identified several areas of the prehospital care processes where there can be efficiencies. To make efficiencies in the decision-making process and produce a standard approach for all patients will require protocolising care pathways.

Aeromedical Transport for Critically Ill Patients.

Aeromedical transport (AMT) is an integral part of healthcare systems worldwide. In this article, the personnel and equipment required, associated safety considerations, and evidence supporting the use of AMT is reviewed, with an emphasis on helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS). Indications for HEMS as guideded by the Air Medical Prehospital Triage Score are presented. Lastly, physiologic considerations, which are important to both AMT crews and receiving clinicians, are reviewed.

Transportation and equipment needs for emergency medical services development in low- and middle-income countries.

Prehospital emergency medical services play a vital role in reducing mortality and disease burden in low- and middle-income countries. However, the availability of adequate prehospital emergency care remains a significant challenge in many resource-limited communities, with over 91% of the African population lacking access to sufficient emergency medical services. This commentary aims to highlight the critical components of transportation infrastructure and medical supply chain challenges for emergency medical service development and propose potential solutions for future study. Transportation is a key factor influencing prehospital mortality, yet many low- and middle-income countries face issues related to timely prehospital transportation, with patients often relying on family members or private vehicles for transportation, leading to delays in reaching healthcare facilities due to poor road infrastructure. Dysfunctional and inadequate vehicles are also common barriers to timely care. Response times and transport times often exceed high-income standards, with some rural areas experiencing total prehospital time, defined as the time of injury to arrival at definitive care, exceeding 24 hours. To address these transportation challenges, some low- and middle-income countries have developed tier-1 emergency medical services programs that use existing transportation infrastructure and involve lay first responders using motorized and non-motorized vehicles. These programs prioritize rapid transportation over advanced on-scene intervention, potentially providing faster response times. A combination of tier-1 and tier-2 emergency medical services systems, as seen in some successful examples, allows for early on-scene guidance and resource allocation. In addition to transportation, the availability of medical equipment is crucial for effective prehospital interventions, particularly in tier-2 systems. However, low- and middle-income countries often face shortages of even basic supplies, limiting the scope of care that emergency medical services personnel can provide. Developing tier-2 emergency medical services upon a foundation of tier-1 prehospital care utilizing sustainable local supply chains and common household items for basic care can help alleviate these equipment challenges. The integration of tier-1 and tier-2 systems may offer a promising solution to address resource limitations and improve timely access to emergency care in low- and middle-income countries. Further research and investment are required to explore and implement these solutions, ultimately reducing mortality and enhancing healthcare services in resource-limited communities.

Addressing transportation barriers in oncology: existing programs and new solutions.

Transportation is an underrecognized, but modifiable barrier to accessing cancer care, especially for clinical trials. Clinicians, insurers, and health systems can screen patients for transportation needs and link them to transportation. Direct transportation services (i.e., ride-sharing, insurance-provided transportation) have high rates of patient satisfaction and visit completion. Patient financial reimbursements provide necessary funds to counteract the effects of transportation barriers, which can lead to higher trial enrollment, especially for low socioeconomic status and racially and ethnically diverse patients. Expanding transportation interventions to more cancer patients, and addressing knowledge, service, and system gaps, can help more patients access needed cancer care.

Implementation of a non-emergent medical transportation programme at an integrated health system.

OBJECTIVES: To implement a unified non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) service across a large integrated healthcare delivery network. METHODS: We assessed needs among key organisational stakeholders, then reviewed proposals. We selected a single NEMT vendor best aligned with organisational priorities and implemented this solution system-wide. RESULTS: Our vendor's hybrid approach combined rideshares with contracted vehicles able to serve patients with equipment and other needs. After 6195 rides in the first year, we observed shorter wait times and lower costs compared with our prior state. DISCUSSION: Essential lessons included (1) understanding user and patient needs, (2) obtaining complete, accurate and comprehensive baseline data and (3) adapting existing workflows-rather than designing de novo-whenever possible. CONCLUSIONS: Our implementation of a single-vendor NEMT solution validates the need for NEMT at large healthcare organisations, geographical challenges to establishing NEMT organisation-wide, and the importance of baseline data and stakeholder engagement.

Trauma outcomes for blunt and penetrating injuries by mode of transportation and day/night shift.

BACKGROUND: Effective management of trauma patients is dependent on pre-hospital triage systems and proper in-hospital treatment regardless of time of admission. We aim to investigate any differences in adjusted all-cause mortality between day vs. night arrival for adult trauma patients who were transported to the hospital via ground emergency medical services (GEMS) and helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and to determine if care/outcomes are inferior when admitted during the night shift as compared to the day shift. METHODS: Retrospective cohort analysis of adult blunt and penetrating injury patients requiring full team trauma activation at an American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACSCOT)-verified Level 1 trauma center from 2011 to 2019. Descriptive statistical analyses, chi-square analyses, independent-sample t-tests, and Fisher's exact tests were performed. Primary measurement outcome was adjusted observed/expected (O/E) mortality ratios utilizing TRISS methodology. RESULTS: 8370 patients with blunt injuries and 1216 patients with penetrating injuries were analyzed. There were no significant differences in day vs. night O/Es overall (blunt 0.65 vs. 0.59; p = 0.46) (penetrating 0.88 vs. 0.87; p = 0.97). There also were no significant differences when stratified by GEMS (blunt 0.64 vs. 0.55; p = 0.08) (penetrating 0.88 vs. 1.10; p = 0.09) and HEMS admissions (blunt 0.76 vs. 0.75; p = 0.91) (penetrating 0.88 vs. 0.91; p = 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: At an ACSCOT-verified Level 1 Trauma Center, care/outcomes of patients admitted during the night shift were not inferior to those admitted during the day shift. Trauma Center verification by the ACSCOT and multidisciplinary collaboration may allow for consistent care despite injury type and time of day.

Initiation of an inter-hospital extracorporeal membrane oxygenation transfer programme for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019: bringing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support to peripheral hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a resource-intensive, highly specialized and expensive therapy that is often reserved for high-volume centres. In recent years, we established an inter-hospital ECMO transfer programme that enables ECMO implants in peripheral hospitals. During the pandemic, the programme was expanded to include ECMO support in selected critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This retrospective single-centre study reports the technical details and challenges encountered during our initial experience with ECMO implants in peripheral hospitals for patients with COVID-19. RESULTS: During March and April 2020, our team at the University Hospital of Zurich performed 3 out-of-centre ECMO implants at different peripheral hospitals. The implants were performed without any complications. The patients were transported by ambulance or helicopter. Good preparation and selection of the required supplies are the keys to success. The implant should be performed by a well-trained, seasoned ECMO team, because options are limited in most peripheral hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Out-of-centre ECMO implants in well-selected patients with COVID-19 is feasible and safe if a well-established organization is available and if the implantation is done by an experienced and regularly trained team.

A Critical Care Transport Program's Innovative Approach to Safety During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in the frequent transfer of critically ill patients, yet there is little information available to assist critical care transport programs in protecting their clinicians from disease exposure in this unique environment. The Lifeline Critical Care Transport Program has implemented several novel interventions to reduce the risk of staff exposure. METHODS: Several safety interventions were implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. These initiatives included the deployment of a transport safety officer, a receiving clean team for select interfacility transports, and modifications in personal protective equipment. RESULTS: From February 29, 2020, to August 29, 2020, there were 1,041 transports of persons under investigation, 660 (63.4%) of whom were ultimately found to be COVID-19 positive. Approximately one third were ground transports, 11 (1.1%) were by air, and the remainder were intrahospital transports. There were 0 documented staff exposures or illnesses during the study period. CONCLUSION: The adaptation of these safety measures resulted in 0 staff exposures or illnesses while maintaining a high-volume, high-acuity critical care transport program. These interventions are the first of their kind to be implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and offer a framework for other organizations and future disease outbreaks.

Severe pediatric war trauma: A military-civilian collaboration from retrieval to repatriation.

BACKGROUND: Modern conflicts take a disproportionate and increasing toll on civilians and children. Since 2013, hundreds of Syrian children have fled to the Israeli border. Severely injured children were triaged for military airborne transport and brought to civilian trauma centers in Israel. After recovery, these patients returned to their homes in Syria.We sought to describe a unique model of a coordinated military-civilian response for the stabilization, transport, and in-hospital management of severe pediatric warzone trauma. METHODS: Prehospital and in-hospital data of all severe pediatric trauma casualties transported by military helicopters from the Syrian border were extracted. Data were abstracted from the electronic medical records of military and civilian medical centers' trauma registries. RESULTS: Sixteen critically injured children with a median age of 9.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 6.5-11.5) were transported from the Syrian border to Level I and Level II trauma centers within Israel. All patients were admitted to intensive care units. Eight patients underwent lifesaving procedures during flight, 7 required airway management, and 5 required thoracostomy. The median injury severity score was 35 (IQR, 13-49). Seven laparotomies, 5 craniotomies, 3 orthopedic surgeries, and 1 skin graft surgery were performed. The median intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were 6 days (IQR, 3-16) and 34 days (IQR, 14-46), respectively. Fifteen patients survived to hospital discharge and returned to their families. CONCLUSION: The findings of this small cohort suggest the benefits of a coordinated military-civilian retrieval of severe pediatric warzone trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, Level V.

A case of a critically injured diver with multiorgan failure and severe pulmonary overinflation syndrome in a resource-limited setting.

A diver practicing controlled emergency ascent training on the island of Guam suffered bilateral pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, coronary arterial gas embolism, and developed multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Due to limitations of available resources he was medically managed in the intensive care unit until he could be transferred to University of California San Diego for definitive management. We provide an account of our management of the patient, the pathophysiology of injury as well as a review of the safety of recreational diving skills training, current standards of practice and potential pitfalls when considering proper management of a critically injured diver.

APS Sesa: organização das transferências (vídeo 06/09)

A referência técnica estadual de Atenção Primária da Sesa, Jordana Cristina Santos, fala sobre a organização das transferências a respeito da organização dos fluxos de serviços na rede de atenção à saúde. Esse vídeo faz parte de uma série de vídeo-aulas sobre a Agenda de resposta rápida para a Atenção Primária à Saúde no enfrentamento à Covid-19.

Webpalestra COVID-19 (Coronavírus): transporte intra e extra-hospitalar de pacientes com COVID-19

Assista mais vídeos sobre COVID-19 no link abaixo: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... Acesse os slides das nossas palestras na Biblioteca Virtual do Telessaúde ES! Confira a data da exibição e encontre o material desejado. Faça download e tenha o material preparado pelos nossos palestrantes. https://telessaude.ifes.edu.br/biblio...

Large-Scale Air Medical Operations in the Age of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Early Leadership Lessons From the Front Lines of British Columbia.

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. It subsequently spread throughout China and around the world, quickly becoming a public health emergency. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 a pandemic. This article explores the preparation and early experiences of a large Canadian critical care transport program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic focused on 6 broad strategic objectives centered around staff welfare, regular and transparent communication, networking, evidenced-based approach to personal protective equipment, agile mission planning, and an expedited approach to clinical practice and policy updates and future state modeling.