PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A recent report from the American Society of Anesthesiologists shows severely injured Black, Asian and Hispanic children and adults in the U.S. are less likely to receive critical helicopter ambulance services than white patients. The ASA discussed the findings at the organization’s annual meeting last weekend in Philadelphia.
The decision to airlift a patient due to severe injuries is often a matter of life and death. Data show that between 2017 and 2022, about 82% of patients transported by helicopter survived, compared to 80% who were transported by ground ambulance.
The study also showed that white adults were twice as likely to be air transported than Black adults.
ASA member Dr. Christian Mpody says the decision to deploy a helicopter must be as objective and systematic as possible, so non-medical factors will not play into the decision.
“Examples include using computer systems to make the decision, like quickly putting in the information about the patient — vitals, and what kind of injury — and let the computer decide,” Mpody said.
ASA member Dr. Bukky Nafiu says it’s important to commend the efforts of EMS services — however, new information like this could be seen as a wake-up call.
“We all have blind spots, basically, and what you're not aware of can and will harm you,” Nafiu said.
Mpody says helicopter transport programs have expanded over the years but have yet to translate into equitable care for people, across all racial and ethnic identities, who are victims of severe injury, traumatic injuries.