Utopia for Norwegian helicopter emergency medical services: Estimating the number of bases needed to radically bring down response times, and lives needed to be saved for cost effectiveness.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) throughout Europe are generally on scene within 10-15 minutes. In Norway, however, with its 13 HEMS bases, only 75% of the population can currently be reached within half an hour. We estimate the number of HEMS bases needed to reach the full Norwegian population within 10-15 minutes, and discuss implications regarding cost effectiveness.

Methods

Using geographic location and population characteristics from Norway's 428 municipalities as input to the Maximal Covering Location Problem-a mathematical location optimization model-we estimate the number of HEMS bases required along with accompanying personnel and healthcare costs. We estimate the minimum number of lives that would have to be saved to achieve a net social bene

SUBMITTER: Jagtenberg CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10062538 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature