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Clinical report| Volume 9, ISSUE 9, P14-23, September 1990

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Statewide helicopter utilization review: The Massachusetts experience

  • Author Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
    Kenneth A. Williams
    Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
    Search for articles by this author
  • Author Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
    Richard Aghababian
    Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
    Search for articles by this author
  • Author Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
    Mary Shaughnessy
    Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
    Search for articles by this author
  • Author Footnotes
    1 Kenneth A. Williams, MD, is Medical director and Richard Aghababian, MD, is executive director at New England Life Flight, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (Worcester, MA). Mary Shaughnessy, RN, MBA, words in the Office of Planning and Marketing.
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S1046-9095(05)80069-8
Statewide helicopter utilization review: The Massachusetts experience
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      Abstract

      Air medical services began in Massachusetts in 1982, and Utilization Review (UR) of both programs in the state began in 1985. The UR program consists of external review of all flights according to screening criteria established by an independent Helicopter Utilization Review Committee (HURC). Between 1982 and 1989, over 2,500 flights were reviewed, with under 2% deemed inappropriate by the committee.
      Results of this process have helped to improve referrals from specific prehospital and hospital care providers, identified specific patient groups of interest, such as those transported for transplants or because of hospital bed shortages in specific regions, and assisted with improved third party reimbursement. Utilization review has not yet assisted with identification of unmet need or inappropriate resource utilization by ground ambulances, and has not compared the outcome of equal levels of care provided by different transport modes. We conclude that a coordinated utilization review process can be of benefit to both patients and air medical services.
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      References

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      5. NELF participated in the early stages of the TIMI trial during this period.

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      Article info

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1046-9095(05)80069-8

      Copyright

      © 1990 WordPerfect Publishing Corporation. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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