A study of the Redesigned Central Australian Aeromedical Retrieval Model
- Sep 12
- 2 min read
This study evaluated the redesign of the aeromedical retrieval system in Central Australia, aimed at improving the efficiency, timeliness, health outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of emergency medical services, particularly patient transport, in remote regions.
The new model, implemented in 2018, introduced a Medical Retrieval and Consultation Centre (MRaCC) and a Remote Outreach Consultation Centre (ROCC), which separated emergency and primary care referrals, ensuring that patients with acute conditions were handled by providers, Consultant physicians, from Emergency Medicine & Critical Care (who also staff the retrieval service and work in the local hospitals when not working in the ROCC). The study demonstrated significant improvements, including a 9% reduction in aeromedical retrieval rates, a 10% reduction in hospitalizations, and 17% fewer ICU hours following implementation. The time from consultation to aeromedical departure was reduced by 18 minutes, enhancing timeliness. Cost-effectiveness was also demonstrated, with the new model saving an estimated $744,528 per year in hospitalizations, while costing only $302 more per hospital admission. These costs do not include the cost savings experienced by patients or their families as a result of decreased transfers and hospitalizations.
Here at home, British Columbia faces similar challenges in delivering healthcare to remote and particularly Indigenous communities, where accessing timely and specialized care can be difficult. The findings from this study suggest that a similar model could be beneficial in BC, especially in its rural and northern areas. By reducing hospital admissions and improving response times, such a system could enhance healthcare delivery while being cost-effective, making it a model worth considering for BC’s geographically dispersed population. Furthermore, the model helps recruit and retain specialist physicians in these areas, thereby enhancing local capacity.
