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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Darren FlynnORCiD, Dr Diarmuid CoughlanORCiD, Dr Paul McMeekin, Professor Gary Ford, Professor Dawn CraigORCiD, Stephen RiceORCiD, Hannah LumleyORCiD, Professor Phil White
Background and Aims: Helicopter Emergency Medical Services(HEMS) for secondary transfer of stroke patients eligible for thrombectomycould have a significant impact on outcomes for patients residing inareas remote from a thrombectomy centre (TC). Remote units cannotsustain a 24/7 thrombectomy service locally and transfer to a TC isnecessary. There are few data on cost-effectiveness of secondary transfervia HEMS to inform commissioning decisions.We are evaluating the costeffectivenessof HEMS versus ground-based ambulance (GBA) for strokethrombectomy in England.Method: Using Geographic Information System data, we identifiedunavoidably remote hospitals serving a population of 800,000 (whereinitiating a local sustainable 24/7 thrombectomy service is not feasible)and >1 hour by GBA from the nearest designated TC. We previouslyestimated the proportion of CT/CTA-confirmed stroke patients admittedwith NIHSS6 within 4.5 hours. Probability of receiving thrombectomyvia HEMS or GBA was derived from average journey times. QualityAdjusted Life Years will be calculated for secondary transfer by HEMSand GBA to the most proximal TC to derive an incremental cost-effectivenessratio.Results: Annual stroke incidence of 3,860 at unavoidably remote hospitals(75km transfer distance), of which 508 patients would be transferredby HEMS. Ongoing survey of HEMS to establish operationalparameters and costs to inform cost effectiveness model is ongoingand will be presented with the health economic data.Conclusion: HEMS is an option for secondary transfer of patients eligiblefor thrombectomy from unavoidably “small” and remote hospitals.Estimates of HEMS cost-effectiveness will be presented to inform theoptimal organisation of thrombectomy service delivery.
Author(s): Flynn D, Coughlan D, McMeekin P, Ford GA, Craig D, Rice S, Burgess D, Balami J, Mawson A, Lumley H, White P
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: European Stroke Organisation Conference
Year of Conference: 2018
Number of Volumes: 3
Pages: 11-11
Print publication date: 01/05/2018
Online publication date: 16/05/2018
Acceptance date: 20/03/2018
Date deposited: 21/05/2018
ISSN: 2396-9873
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/2396987318770127
DOI: 10.1177/2396987318770127
Series Title: European Stroke Journal
Sponsor(s): National Institute for Health Research
