Could Rotary-Wing Retrieval Improve Timeliness of Prehospital Critical-Care in Central Australia?
Tracks
Concurrent Room 2
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM |
| Concurrent Room 2 |
Overview
Professor Richard Johnson, Alice Springs Hospital
Details
1. A rotary retrieval model in Central Australia would be well utilised
2. Critically injured and unwell patients would receive time sensitive treatment significantly earlier following the introduction of a rotary wing
3. The majority of communities and cattle stations within the Central Australian Retrieval Service catchment would benefit from the introduction of a rotary wing
Speaker
Professor Richard Johnson
Deputy Director Of Medical Services
Alice Springs Hospital
Could Rotary-Wing Retrieval Improve Timeliness of Prehospital Critical-Care in Central Australia? A Hypothetical Model
Presentation Overview
Objectives: To compare existing fixed wing aero-medical retrieval times to those generated from a hypothetical rotary wing (helicopter) model to evaluate for a difference in time taken for medical retrieval in the Central Australian region.
Methods: All priority 1 and 2 retrievals between 1st January 2023 to 20th June 2023 were retrospectively identified, and data (including basic demographic data, reason for retrieval, and time taken for retrieval) abstracted from clinical records. A hypothetical rotary wing model was established using expert consensus opinion, Google maps for identification of land sites, and technical rotary wing data. This model was used to generate hypothetical retrival times for comparison to the fixed wing retrieval times.
Results: 119 priority 1 and 2 retrievals were identified; 117 were included in the analysis. The majority of retrievals were P2 (N=106, 90.6%), and adults (16 years or older) comprised 83.8% of retrievals (N=98). When compared to existing FW times, hypothetical RW retrieval times, within 400km of Alice Springs Hospital were statistically significantly faster, with median time savings of 103.5 minutes (100-200km radius, p-value 0.003), 55.5 minutes (200-300km radius , p-value <0.001), and 72 minutes (300-400km radius, p-value <0.001) (Table 5).
Conclusion: This hypothetical model suggests a RW asset would positively impact a retrieval service operating across a large, sparsely populated geographical region.
Methods: All priority 1 and 2 retrievals between 1st January 2023 to 20th June 2023 were retrospectively identified, and data (including basic demographic data, reason for retrieval, and time taken for retrieval) abstracted from clinical records. A hypothetical rotary wing model was established using expert consensus opinion, Google maps for identification of land sites, and technical rotary wing data. This model was used to generate hypothetical retrival times for comparison to the fixed wing retrieval times.
Results: 119 priority 1 and 2 retrievals were identified; 117 were included in the analysis. The majority of retrievals were P2 (N=106, 90.6%), and adults (16 years or older) comprised 83.8% of retrievals (N=98). When compared to existing FW times, hypothetical RW retrieval times, within 400km of Alice Springs Hospital were statistically significantly faster, with median time savings of 103.5 minutes (100-200km radius, p-value 0.003), 55.5 minutes (200-300km radius , p-value <0.001), and 72 minutes (300-400km radius, p-value <0.001) (Table 5).
Conclusion: This hypothetical model suggests a RW asset would positively impact a retrieval service operating across a large, sparsely populated geographical region.
Biography
A UK/Australian-trained Emergency and Aeromedical Retrieval specialist, I have been in Alice Springs for over 14 years. As Director of the Central Australian Retrieval service I lead an all-of-system redesign to focus logistics and clinical co-ordination on delivering positive outcomes for patients and their community. With a background in mountain-rescue, expeditions and medicine in the developing world my passion is service-delivery that works with the community and environment. Since early 2023 I have been part of the hospital executive team from which position I am privileged to be able to further promote equitable healthcare access through service development/redesign
