Improving Emergency Aeromedical Transport in Remote Areas

Providing quick access to specialized care to populations in remote areas of Canada is challenging. An innovative research project has led to the development of a simulator to guide strategic decisions concerning hospital plane fleet composition in order to improve patient transfers to specialized care centres.

Responding to Emergency Situations in Remote Areas

In cases of strokes, premature labour, or severe trauma, every minute counts. Equipped with medical facilities and specialist staff, hospital planes provide crucial continuity of care during transport for patients who do not have access to a specialized care centre in their community.

What are the necessary features for such a service? Should priority be given to faster or smaller planes? What mix of aircrafts is best suited to the needs and constraints of the territory?

In close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) and Évacuations aéromédicales du Québec (EVAQ), 3 researchers from HEC Montréal developed a state-of-the-art simulator comparing various fleet compositions based on factors such as aircraft characteristics, timeframes, carrying capacity, weather considerations, and breakdowns.

The Right Combination to Save Lives

It was concluded that combining a long-range aircraft for 1,000km+ itineraries with smaller planes for intermediate distances could increase efficiencies and reduce patient transfer times by 22.7% and 25.9% respectively.

Additionally, the introduction of 2 smaller planes would decrease waiting times by 34% and multiply the service life of the long-range aircraft four-fold by reducing its annual number of flights.

Reducing Health Inequalities

Thanks to this simulator, decision-makers can plan their air fleet in line with actual needs. Additionally, this project contributes to reinforcing social cohesion and improving health equity by bringing specialized care closer to the most isolated populations in Canada.

This flexible approach can also be adapted to other situations to support managers in their strategic decisions.

A Tangible Impact