W Kriegsman1, W Anthes. 1. City of Ketchikan Fire Department, AK 99901, USA.
Abstract
HYPOTHESIS: Alcohol is a major factor in ambulance responses in rural Alaska; alcohol-related emergencies significantly increase the expense of operating an advanced life support ambulance service. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed on emergency medical responses one year, ending September 30, 1997. Data were collected from medical records, police documents, and court records. ANALYSIS: Each ambulance response was analyzed for the presence of alcohol. The departmental budget was reviewed to separate out fixed and variable costs. Between these analyses, a determination was made regarding the actual cost of all alcohol-related ambulance responses. RESULTS: Six hundred eighty-one patients were included for study. Alcohol was a factor in one hundred ninety-one (28.0%) of these patients. The cost to the community for alcohol-related responses amounted to $81,503, representing 19.2% of the budget. CONCLUSION: The cost to respond to alcohol-related emergencies represents a significant fraction of Ketchikan's total emergency medical budget.
HYPOTHESIS: Alcohol is a major factor in ambulance responses in rural Alaska; alcohol-related emergencies significantly increase the expense of operating an advanced life support ambulance service. METHODS: A prospective analysis was performed on emergency medical responses one year, ending September 30, 1997. Data were collected from medical records, police documents, and court records. ANALYSIS: Each ambulance response was analyzed for the presence of alcohol. The departmental budget was reviewed to separate out fixed and variable costs. Between these analyses, a determination was made regarding the actual cost of all alcohol-related ambulance responses. RESULTS: Six hundred eighty-one patients were included for study. Alcohol was a factor in one hundred ninety-one (28.0%) of these patients. The cost to the community for alcohol-related responses amounted to $81,503, representing 19.2% of the budget. CONCLUSION: The cost to respond to alcohol-related emergencies represents a significant fraction of Ketchikan's total emergency medical budget.
Authors: Bernhard T Baune; Rafael T Mikolajczyk; Gerhard Reymann; Annette Duesterhaus; Susanne Fleck; Hildegard Kratz; Ulrike Sundermann Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2005-11-18 Impact factor: 2.655