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A cost and outcomes comparison of a novel integrated pediatric air and ground transportation system.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Safford, SD; Hayward, TZ; Safford, KM; Georgiade, GS; Rice, HE; Skinner, MA
Published in: J Am Coll Surg
December 2002

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to compare air transportation of critically ill pediatric patients with a mixed air-ground transportation system by evaluating timeliness, safety, and cost. The setting was a tertiary care "hub" center with three outlying-referral "spoke" facilities. STUDY DESIGN: Our study included 96 children transported between June and December 1997, with 45% constituting surgical admissions and 55% medical admissions. Data collected at the outlying facilities, en route, and at our institution included vital signs, laboratory values, and Glasgow coma scores. We evaluated transport time, transport cost, Pediatric Risk of Mortality scores, and Pediatric Index of Mortality of the children during transportation using ANOVA statistical analysis. We also compared adverse events in transportation, total hospital length of stay, and mortality at 24 and 72 hours in both the air and ground transport groups to determine differences in predicted and observed mortality. RESULTS: A total of 96 children were transported (48% by ground and 52% by air) between June and December 1997. The time at the referring facility was significantly shorter in the ground group than in the air group (air, 55.4 minutes versus ground, 36.7 minutes, p < 0.01). Total transport time differed by only 27 minutes between groups. No difference was identified in morbidity or mortality between air and ground groups. Actual mortality was not significantly different from predicted mortality in either group. The cost of ground transportation was significantly lower (air, $4,236 versus ground, $1,566). When our system of a combined air and ground group transport system is compared with a hypothetical 100% air transport system, we saved an average of more than $240,000 annually. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that a "hub-and-spoke" ground transportation system supplements air transportation in a safe, timely, and cost-effective manner.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

ISSN

1072-7515

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

195

Issue

6

Start / End Page

790 / 795

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transportation of Patients
  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics
  • Humans
  • Critical Illness
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Ambulances
  • Air Ambulances
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
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Safford, S. D., Hayward, T. Z., Safford, K. M., Georgiade, G. S., Rice, H. E., & Skinner, M. A. (2002). A cost and outcomes comparison of a novel integrated pediatric air and ground transportation system. J Am Coll Surg, 195(6), 790–795. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1072-7515(02)01489-8
Safford, Shawn D., Thomas Z. Hayward, Kristine M. Safford, Gregory S. Georgiade, Henry E. Rice, and Michael A. Skinner. “A cost and outcomes comparison of a novel integrated pediatric air and ground transportation system.J Am Coll Surg 195, no. 6 (December 2002): 790–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1072-7515(02)01489-8.
Safford SD, Hayward TZ, Safford KM, Georgiade GS, Rice HE, Skinner MA. A cost and outcomes comparison of a novel integrated pediatric air and ground transportation system. J Am Coll Surg. 2002 Dec;195(6):790–5.
Safford, Shawn D., et al. “A cost and outcomes comparison of a novel integrated pediatric air and ground transportation system.J Am Coll Surg, vol. 195, no. 6, Dec. 2002, pp. 790–95. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/s1072-7515(02)01489-8.
Safford SD, Hayward TZ, Safford KM, Georgiade GS, Rice HE, Skinner MA. A cost and outcomes comparison of a novel integrated pediatric air and ground transportation system. J Am Coll Surg. 2002 Dec;195(6):790–795.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Am Coll Surg

DOI

ISSN

1072-7515

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

195

Issue

6

Start / End Page

790 / 795

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Transportation of Patients
  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics
  • Humans
  • Critical Illness
  • Costs and Cost Analysis
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Ambulances
  • Air Ambulances
  • 3202 Clinical sciences