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Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Response in Rural Areas in Poland: Retrospective Study

Author

Listed:
  • Patryk Rzońca

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, 4-6 Staszica St., 20-081 Lublin, Poland)

  • Stanisław Paweł Świeżewski

    (Department of Emergency Medical Services, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, 81 Żwirki i Wigury St., 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Rakesh Jalali

    (Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Collegium Medicum University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 30 Aleja Warszawska St., 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland)

  • Joanna Gotlib

    (Division of Teaching and Outcomes of Education, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, 81 Żwirki i Wigury St., 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

  • Robert Gałązkowski

    (Department of Emergency Medical Services, Faculty of Health Science, Medical University of Warsaw, 81 Żwirki i Wigury St., 02-091 Warsaw, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics of missions performed by HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) crews and the analysis of health problems, which are the most common cause of intervention in rural areas in Poland. The study was conducted using a retrospective analysis based on the medical records of patients provided by the HEMS crew, who were present for the emergencies in rural areas in the period from January 2011 to December 2018. The final analysis included 37,085 cases of intervention by HEMS crews, which accounted for 54.91% of all the missions carried out in the study period. The majority (67.4%) of patients rescued were male, and just under a quarter of those rescued were aged between 50–64 years. Injuries (51.04%) and cardiovascular diseases (36.49%) were the main diagnoses found in the study group. Whereas injuries were significantly higher in the male group and patients below 64 years of age, cardiovascular diseases were higher in women and elderly patients ( p < 0.001). Moreover, in the group of women myocardial infarction was significantly more frequent (30.95%) than men, while in the group of men head injuries (27.10%), multiple and multi-organ injuries (25.93%), sudden cardiac arrest (14.52%), stroke (12.19%), and epilepsy (4.95%) was significantly higher. Factors that are associated with the most common health problems of rural patients are: gender and age, as well as the seasons of the year and the values of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Revised Trauma Score (RTS), and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) used to assess the clinical status of patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Patryk Rzońca & Stanisław Paweł Świeżewski & Rakesh Jalali & Joanna Gotlib & Robert Gałązkowski, 2019. "Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Response in Rural Areas in Poland: Retrospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1532-:d:227169
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shao-Chun Wu & Cheng-Shyuan Rau & Spencer C. H. Kuo & Peng-Chen Chien & Hsiao-Yun Hsieh & Ching-Hua Hsieh, 2018. "The Reverse Shock Index Multiplied by Glasgow Coma Scale Score (rSIG) and Prediction of Mortality Outcome in Adult Trauma Patients: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Based on Registered Trauma Data," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-12, October.
    2. Chun-Ying Huang & Cheng-Shyuan Rau & Jung-Fang Chuang & Pao-Jen Kuo & Shiun-Yuan Hsu & Yi-Chun Chen & Hsiao-Yun Hsieh & Ching-Hua Hsieh, 2016. "Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Injured in Road Traffic Crashes and Transported by Emergency Medical Services," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, February.
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