Air medical journal
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Air medical journal · Jul 2013
Comparative StudyShould air medical patients be transferred on helipad or trauma bay?
Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are widely used in regional trauma care and present unique challenges in the patient handoff process. In particular, the practice of patient handoff on the landing zone versus the trauma bay does not exist in ground emergency medical services. We hypothesized that patients handed off on the landing zone versus the trauma bay would have different patient characteristics and outcomes. ⋯ In this limited study, we found that HEMS did identify the sickest patients and brought them to the trauma bay. Despite their greater injury severity, the patients handed off in the bay fared better than those handed off on the landing zone.
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Air medical journal · Jul 2013
Observational StudyLong-acting neuromuscular blocker use during prehospital transport of trauma patients.
The purpose of this study was to determine the rate of long-acting neuromuscular blocker (LA-NMB) use and evaluate the concurrent use of sedatives during prehospital care. ⋯ The use of LA-NMB is common during the prehospital transport of trauma patients. Some of these patients may not be given sedatives or may have delays in receiving sedatives after intubation.