Introduction Air ambulances transport patients to their home country or to centres of medical excellence when they are critically ill or injured. From stranded hikers to cancer patients, individuals worldwide use air ambulance transport when they need care that cannot be provided in the country or area where they are situated. Aim The overall aim of this study was to explore the challenges experienced by health care professionals during air ambulance transport of patients in sub-Saharan Africa. Research method A quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive, exploratory design was used. The study was conducted in three phases. Phase 1 was the planning of the questionnaire, Phase 2 was the pre-testing of the questionnaire and Phase 3 was the execution phase in which the questionnaires were distributed, and data were captured and analysed. Results The researcher used the data generated from the questionnaires to indicate short falls within air ambulance transport services in sub-Saharan Africa. Conclusion The researcher made recommendations in order to increase the level of air ambulance services in sub-Saharan Africa. / Dissertation (MCur)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Nursing Science / unrestricted

MSc (Nursing), Faculty of health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand / This quasi-experimental study assesses the value of simulation based learning for a medical flight crew within an air ambulance service based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of simulation based learning for air medical crew in performing synchronized cardioversion efficiently, effectively and safely within the air medical environment. The objectives were to determine if there is a difference between the experimental group that had been exposed to a simulation-based learning experience versus a control group that had not, in respect of performing synchronized cardioversion and scene management pertaining to this skill. This was a qausi-experimental study in which stratified random sampling was done to divide the participants into the control and experimental groups using medical qualification as homogenous subsets. The outcome of the study showed that the control group was quicker to first shock than the participants in the experimental group. However, the participants in the experimental group performed the skill more effectively, with regard to doing / following the correct steps in performing the skill of synchronized cardioversion and were safer practitioners. None of the variants within the sample groups had a significant effect on performance of the skill. The conclusion is that within this specific air ambulance service, simulation- based learning improved the performance of synchronized cardioversion in comparison to the normal orientation / training provided in the service.

The purpose of this research was to examine physical layout and organization of equipment as it pertained to patient care in rotor-wing air ambulances. The qualitative approach included observations, interviews, surveys and incident report reviews; and involved paramedics, educators, engineers and physicians affiliated with Ornge Transport Medicine. Findings showed that there is inconsistent placement of equipment within and between bases. A standardized approach to storing equipment, including labelling, could improve readiness for a call by assisting paramedics in ensuring equipment is properly stocked. It was also found that the layout of the patient care compartment was not optimal for some tasks, such as intubation and documentation, due to lack of space. Future helicopters should have seating, both behind the head and at the side of the patient that accommodates safe postures and allows paramedic’s access to the supplies necessary for the full spectrum of patient care expected in this environment.

The purpose of this research was to examine physical layout and organization of equipment as it pertained to patient care in rotor-wing air ambulances. The qualitative approach included observations, interviews, surveys and incident report reviews; and involved paramedics, educators, engineers and physicians affiliated with Ornge Transport Medicine. Findings showed that there is inconsistent placement of equipment within and between bases. A standardized approach to storing equipment, including labelling, could improve readiness for a call by assisting paramedics in ensuring equipment is properly stocked. It was also found that the layout of the patient care compartment was not optimal for some tasks, such as intubation and documentation, due to lack of space. Future helicopters should have seating, both behind the head and at the side of the patient that accommodates safe postures and allows paramedic’s access to the supplies necessary for the full spectrum of patient care expected in this environment.

In emergency medical transport, “time to definite care” is very important. Emergency medical services and transport medicine agencies have several possible vehicle options for interfacility transfers. Use of a land vehicle, helicopter, or fixed wing aircraft will be dependent on patient condition, distance between sending and receiving hospitals, crew configuration and capabilities, and other factors such as weather and road conditions. This thesis lays out the complex process of patient transfers and highlights the challenges in decision making under time pressure; it then describes the behaviour of human operators in estimating time to definite care. To support the operators in choosing a transportation mode, a decision support tool was built, which provides relevant time estimates for interfacility transfers based on historical dispatch and call data. The goal is to enable operators to make evidence-based decisions on vehicle allocation. A prototype interface was generated and was evaluated through a usability study.

In emergency medical transport, “time to definite care” is very important. Emergency medical services and transport medicine agencies have several possible vehicle options for interfacility transfers. Use of a land vehicle, helicopter, or fixed wing aircraft will be dependent on patient condition, distance between sending and receiving hospitals, crew configuration and capabilities, and other factors such as weather and road conditions. This thesis lays out the complex process of patient transfers and highlights the challenges in decision making under time pressure; it then describes the behaviour of human operators in estimating time to definite care. To support the operators in choosing a transportation mode, a decision support tool was built, which provides relevant time estimates for interfacility transfers based on historical dispatch and call data. The goal is to enable operators to make evidence-based decisions on vehicle allocation. A prototype interface was generated and was evaluated through a usability study.

This is an educational design project exploring how prehospital care training can be altered to improve mental proficiency for emergency medical professionals.  The London Air Ambulance performs a complex life-saving procedure known as REBOA (Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta) on the roadside; the only emergency medical service to do so worldwide. Teams consisting of a doctor-paramedic pairing are required to perform at their peak in extreme environments, making training for such circumstances crucial. As a result, this project strategically maps current mental processes into a framework, identifying multiple design opportunities to approach chaotic accident scenes. The framework acts as the basis for defining a curriculum, which, using Instructional Design principles, develops into a learning programme that highlights how learners experience training activities to modify communication habits and on-scene behaviour. A three-part toolkit embodies this learning programme, functioning as a sensory guide to explicitly direct attention at pre-, mid- and post-procedure interaction events between team members.