Air medical journal
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Air medical journal · Oct 1998
Comparative StudyAir medical transport of the injured patient: scene versus referring hospital.
In a rural service area, does the outcome of air medical patients transferred from the scene of injury differ from that of patients transferred from a primary receiving hospital? ⋯ Patient groups were similar, suggesting similar triage criteria. Patients transferred from a referring hospital took almost six times longer to reach definitive care and may have suffered an increased morbidity and mortality on this basis.
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A significant portion of the Air Med Team (AMT) flight missions involves interfacility transport of the ill or injured to receiving facilities with comprehensive resources available for their care. In an effort to help meet the psychologic needs of our patients and their families, AMT developed a Family Member Ride-Along program that allows family members or significant others to accompany patients during interfacility transport. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ride-along program from the perspective of the family member passenger (FMP) who has accompanied a patient during transport. ⋯ Our study shows that allowing FMPs to accompany patients during transport benefits both patients and family members.
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Air medical journal · Jul 1998
The effect of a rapid sequence induction protocol on intubation success rate in an air medical program.
The purpose of this study was to examine the percentage of successful intubations before and after implementation of a rapid sequence induction (RSI) protocol in patients treated by our flight nurses and paramedics. The records of 100 intubation attempts before the RSI protocol was implemented and 98 after implementation were reviewed. ⋯ No significant difference existed in the number of patients successfully intubated preRSI compared with postRSI. The statistically significant patient characteristics associated with unsuccessful intubation were facial trauma, combativeness, vomiting, and nasal bleeding.
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Air medical journal · Jul 1998
Editorial CommentBlood transfusion and acute intravascular volume loss.