Optimizing Helicopter Air Ambulance Dispatch to Improve Sustainability in Interfacility Transfers.
Air Medical Journal · 2025-01-01 · Method & validation
Abstract
Climate change poses a significant challenge to public health, yet the health care industry contributes substantially to greenhouse gas emissions, with approximately 8.5% of the US emissions linked to health care operations. Among the sector's overlooked environmental impacts, helicopter air ambulances (HAAs), essential for patient transport, have a notable environmental cost due to high fuel consumption and emissions. This study explores the potential for optimizing HAA dispatch strategies to reduce fuel use and emissions. Focusing on interfacility transports within STAT MedEvac's network, we introduce a method to minimize total roundtrip travel distance while adhering to clinically acceptable time thresholds. By optimizing dispatch decisions for interfacility transport, we calculated potential annual savings of >6,000 miles (1.8% of total distance) and corresponding reductions in fuel consumption and emissions. Further optimization using more flexible time thresholds could double these savings. This research demonstrates that minor changes in HAA dispatch strategies can lead to significant environmental benefits while maintaining high patient care standards, suggesting a scalable model for improving sustainability in the health care sector.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Helicopter & air ambulance · Implementation · Interfacility & critical care transport · Time intervals
Related articles
- Using Checklists to Improve Turnaround Times in Time-Critical Interhospital Transfers. (Air Med J, 2026)
- Using operations research to plan improvement of the transport of critically ill patients. (Prehosp Emerg Care, 2013)
- Quicker team launch times for urgent priority neonatal retrievals: A Quality Improvement Initiative study. (J Perinatol, 2026)
- Lessons learned from the first 50 COVID-19 critical care transfer missions conducted by a civilian UK Helicopter Emergency Medical Service team. (Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med, 2022)
- Improving Mobilization Times of a Specialized Neonatal and Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team. (Air Med J, 2022)
- Using quality improvement to optimize neonatal transport team process metrics for critical transfers. (Pediatr Res, 2026)