Characteristics of Patients Treated by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in Ireland from 2012 to 2022: A Retrospective Analysis of Ten Years of Data

Abstract

Introduction:A dedicated primary scene landing Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) has been in operation in Ireland since 2012. Commencing with a unique collaboration between the Irish Aer Corps and civilian Emergency Medical Services (EMS) it has expanded to include a second charity funded model in the south west of the country. Both services operate under a single governance and dispatch system and provide an Advanced Paramedic level of care to the patients they serve. There is limited published literature on prehospital care in Ireland and to date no detailed descriptive study of patients treated by HEMS in Ireland. This research describes the characteristics of the patients treated by HEMS in Ireland.Method:This retrospective study will investigate the data of an excess of 8000 patients responded to by HEMS (2012-2022) in the republic of Ireland. Descriptive statistics will be used to interpret patient demographics, geographical spread, receiving facilities, mechanism/etiology of disease or injury, vital trends, transportation decisions and clinical interventions and short-term clinical outcomes.Results:Early stage data extraction shows seasonal variation in HEMS use with increased use in the summer months. Almost twice as many male patients vs. females were treated by HEMS while the most common age profile was 55-65 yrs. Trauma presentations have increased over the past 10 years and now account for over 60% of the overall caseload. The most common medical etiology was cardiac arrest or post resuscitation care followed by STEMI Care, the most common trauma cases were from road traffic collisions followed by falls and farm accidents.Conclusion:This study will be the first to describe the overall characteristics of HEMS patients in Ireland over a decade of service provision. As the Irish health system continues to evolve, so must its aeromedical services.