Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.008
Christopher A. Warren NRP, FP-C, CCP-C
Transitioning from fire-based emergency medical services to the world of critical care flight medicine represents a dramatic professional evolution. This shift demands not only new clinical competencies but also a profound transformation in mindset, autonomy, and operational readiness. Fixed-wing critical care flight paramedics must master complex equipment, medications, and physiology under unique constraints, including altitude and international operations. This subject review explores the nuances of this transition from firsthand experience, offering insight to clinicians considering or undergoing the shift into aeromedical transport.
{"title":"Transitioning From Fire-Based EMS to Critical Care Flight Medicine","authors":"Christopher A. Warren NRP, FP-C, CCP-C","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transitioning from fire-based emergency medical services to the world of critical care flight medicine represents a dramatic professional evolution. This shift demands not only new clinical competencies but also a profound transformation in mindset, autonomy, and operational readiness. Fixed-wing critical care flight paramedics must master complex equipment, medications, and physiology under unique constraints, including altitude and international operations. This subject review explores the nuances of this transition from firsthand experience, offering insight to clinicians considering or undergoing the shift into aeromedical transport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 85-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.012
Setti I. Belhouari MD , Brodie T. Nolan MD, MSc , James J. Jung MD, PhD
Objective
Delays in access to emergency care are potentially detrimental to patient health. Evidence suggests that patients with obesity may be more prone to delays in health care settings.
Methods
The primary objective of this study is to determine whether obesity status is an independent predictor of prolonged interfacility transport by air ambulance to access definitive care in Ontario, Canada. This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of all emergent interfacility transfers of patients, at least 16 years of age, performed by Ontario’s sole air ambulance provider, a total of 15,466 patients, from January 2017 to December 2020. Six different time intervals were identified during the patients’ transfers from the site of emergency to a sending facility and, then, to a receiving facility. Obesity status was defined by the ambulance provider as weight ≥120 kg, and covariables included patient-, paramedic-, and institution-level characteristics. The primary outcome was the change in total modifiable time of transfer, defined as the sum of the 6 time intervals. Multivariable regression analyses explored the relationship between obesity status and total modifiable time after risk adjustment.
Results
Of the 15,466 patients transferred, 739 (4.8%) were classified with obesity status. The median total modifiable time was 137 minutes. Obesity status was associated with increase of 41 minutes in total modifiable time (95% confidence interval, 14-67 minutes; P < .01). Use of a rotor aircraft was associated with a reduction in total modifiable time of 154 minutes (95% confidence interval, 131-177 minutes; P < .01).
Conclusion
Obesity status was associated with an increase in modifiable duration of emergent air ambulance interfacility transfers in Ontario.
{"title":"Obesity Status Is a Predictor of Prolonged Interfacility Transport by Air Ambulance: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study","authors":"Setti I. Belhouari MD , Brodie T. Nolan MD, MSc , James J. Jung MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Delays in access to emergency care are potentially detrimental to patient health. Evidence suggests that patients with obesity may be more prone to delays in health care settings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The primary objective of this study is to determine whether obesity status is an independent predictor of prolonged interfacility transport by air ambulance to access definitive care in Ontario, Canada. This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of all emergent interfacility transfers of patients, at least 16 years of age, performed by Ontario’s sole air ambulance provider, a total of 15,466 patients, from January 2017 to December 2020. Six different time intervals were identified during the patients’ transfers from the site of emergency to a sending facility and, then, to a receiving facility. Obesity status was defined by the ambulance provider as weight ≥120 kg, and covariables included patient-, paramedic-, and institution-level characteristics. The primary outcome was the change in total modifiable time of transfer, defined as the sum of the 6 time intervals. Multivariable regression analyses explored the relationship between obesity status and total modifiable time after risk adjustment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 15,466 patients transferred, 739 (4.8%) were classified with obesity status. The median total modifiable time was 137 minutes. Obesity status was associated with increase of 41 minutes in total modifiable time (95% confidence interval, 14-67 minutes; <em>P</em> < .01). Use of a rotor aircraft was associated with a reduction in total modifiable time of 154 minutes (95% confidence interval, 131-177 minutes; <em>P</em> < .01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Obesity status was associated with an increase in modifiable duration of emergent air ambulance interfacility transfers in Ontario.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 26-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.011
Ashley A. Macdonald ACP , Jonathan Lee CCP , Aaron J. Lacy MD, MHPE , James L. Li MD, MEd, FAEMS
{"title":"Prehospital Symptom Management for Pediatric Patients","authors":"Ashley A. Macdonald ACP , Jonathan Lee CCP , Aaron J. Lacy MD, MHPE , James L. Li MD, MEd, FAEMS","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.011","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 12-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.007
Brittany Shutes MD, MPH , Jonathan A. Wheeler MD , Charles McCombs MD , Caleb Carmin RN , Samantha Gee MD , Karen Texter MD , John Kovalchin MD , Clifford L. Cua MD , Delia Gold MD
Objective
Hypoxemia is a common presentation of neonatal critical illness. Identifying critical congenital heart disease (CHD) causing hypoxemia is pivotal in determining immediate medical management. In this work, the preliminary results from development of a transport team–focused cardiac ultrasound (US) protocol were presented.
Methods
Phase 1 involved baseline survey of transport team motivation and prior experience followed by structured education and hands-on simulation sessions to teach the basics of cardiac anatomy and US. Participants complete pre- and post-education knowledge assessments. In phase 2, participants performed supervised bedside US on hospitalized infants to practice skills, familiarize themselves with the handheld US device, and learn the focused cardiac US protocol. The US images were compared with a recent comprehensive echocardiogram and assessed for image quality and diagnostic certainty by 2 pediatric cardiologists.
Results
A total of 25 transport team members completed paired pre- and post-testing in phase 1. They had high team member motivation to improve US skills and cardiac anatomy knowledge and demonstrated improved post-education scoring with median score increasing from 20/43 (47%) (interquartile range [IQR]: 17-25) to 34/43 (79%) (IQR: 34-41.5) (P < .05). In phase 2, 17 transport members completed 42 scans on 14 unique infants, 10 with CHD. Of 42 scans, 39 (93%) had sufficient image quality to make a diagnosis, with 37 (88%) having “high” diagnostic certainty and 36 (86%) matched complete transthoracic echocardiogram, without missed diagnosis. The median completion time was 17 (IQR: 12.8-20.6) minutes.
Conclusion
The first 2 phases of this study have demonstrated that transport team members can use handheld US technology to obtain timely and sufficient quality cardiac images to allow for identifying and triaging of CHD in infants. This novel, resource-conscious application has the potential to streamline the care of hypoxemic newborns after undergoing protocol efficiency refinement, independent proficiency testing, and study of remote application.
{"title":"Pilot Study Assessing Feasibility of Focused Newborn Cardiac Ultrasound by Transport Team Members to Identify Hypoxemic Congenital Heart Disease","authors":"Brittany Shutes MD, MPH , Jonathan A. Wheeler MD , Charles McCombs MD , Caleb Carmin RN , Samantha Gee MD , Karen Texter MD , John Kovalchin MD , Clifford L. Cua MD , Delia Gold MD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Hypoxemia is a common presentation of neonatal critical illness. Identifying critical congenital heart disease (CHD) causing hypoxemia is pivotal in determining immediate medical management. In this work, the preliminary results from development of a transport team–focused cardiac ultrasound (US) protocol were presented.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Phase 1 involved baseline survey of transport team motivation and prior experience followed by structured education and hands-on simulation sessions to teach the basics of cardiac anatomy and US. Participants complete pre- and post-education knowledge assessments. In phase 2, participants performed supervised bedside US on hospitalized infants to practice skills, familiarize themselves with the handheld US device, and learn the focused cardiac US protocol. The US images were compared with a recent comprehensive echocardiogram and assessed for image quality and diagnostic certainty by 2 pediatric cardiologists.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 25 transport team members completed paired pre- and post-testing in phase 1. They had high team member motivation to improve US skills and cardiac anatomy knowledge and demonstrated improved post-education scoring with median score increasing from 20/43 (47%) (interquartile range [IQR]: 17-25) to 34/43 (79%) (IQR: 34-41.5) (<em>P</em> < .05). In phase 2, 17 transport members completed 42 scans on 14 unique infants, 10 with CHD. Of 42 scans, 39 (93%) had sufficient image quality to make a diagnosis, with 37 (88%) having “high” diagnostic certainty and 36 (86%) matched complete transthoracic echocardiogram, without missed diagnosis. The median completion time was 17 (IQR: 12.8-20.6) minutes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The first 2 phases of this study have demonstrated that transport team members can use handheld US technology to obtain timely and sufficient quality cardiac images to allow for identifying and triaging of CHD in infants. This novel, resource-conscious application has the potential to streamline the care of hypoxemic newborns after undergoing protocol efficiency refinement, independent proficiency testing, and study of remote application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 63-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.002
Youichi Yanagawa MD, PhD
On July 30, 2025, at approximately 08:25, a magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurred near the Kamchatka Peninsula. Although the earthquake itself caused no direct damage in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, a tsunami was predicted to reach Japan, prompting the issuance of a tsunami warning. In response to the forecast—predicting tsunami heights of up to 3 m in eastern Shizuoka—operations of the physician-staffed helicopter were relocated to an inland landing site, away from the coastal area, to ensure the safety of patients, medical personnel, and the aircraft. To the best of our knowledge, no similar operational reports have been published in English-language medical literature. This report was therefore compiled as a reference for future documentation and disaster preparedness.
{"title":"Operation of Doctor Helicopters in Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture During the Tsunami Caused by the Massive Earthquake Near the Kamchatka Peninsula","authors":"Youichi Yanagawa MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>On July 30, 2025, at approximately 08:25, a magnitude 8.7 earthquake occurred near the Kamchatka Peninsula. Although the earthquake itself caused no direct damage in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, a tsunami was predicted to reach Japan, prompting the issuance of a tsunami warning. In response to the forecast—predicting tsunami heights of up to 3 m in eastern Shizuoka—operations of the physician-staffed helicopter were relocated to an inland landing site, away from the coastal area, to ensure the safety of patients, medical personnel, and the aircraft. To the best of our knowledge, no similar operational reports have been published in English-language medical literature. This report was therefore compiled as a reference for future documentation and disaster preparedness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 77-80"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.004
Anita Wall BNSc, PGCertNSc (Int Care), DipMid, MAdvNPrac, PGCertNSc (Clin Teach), Grad Cert in Education , Clinton Gibbs MBBS, FACEM, MPHTM, DipDHM, PGCertAeromedRet , Lachlan Quick MBBS, FACEM, FCICM , Jan Sadewasser MBBS, FACEM, FRCEM, AFACAsM , Katie Clift MBChB, MRCS, FRCA, FANZCA , Richard C. Franklin PhD, MScoSci, FARLF, PHFAA
Objective
Describe the clinical characteristics of patients with an external ventricular drain (EVD) air medically retrieved.
Methods
A retrospective chart audit of adults with an EVD air medically retrieved between January 2018 and June 2022 was conducted using the Retrieval Services Queensland database. Patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified, and then a manual review was conducted to identify EVD cases.
Results
A total of 60 patients met the review criteria. However, 34 patients did not have an EVD in situ, 1 was not transported, and 2 charts were non-retrievable, leaving 21 patients in this review. Of the patients, 76% were mechanically ventilated and 10% had no EVD drainage (suspected to be blocked). Blood pressure fluctuations occurred in 67% of the cases (79% during flight). Separate analgesia/anesthetic infusions were administered in 75% of the patients, with 83% requiring rate increases and 100% requiring boluses for increases in blood pressure. Hypertension in 3 patients occurred post-EVD being turned off and resolved when EVD was turned back on, and bolus sedation/analgesia was provided.
Conclusion
The air medical transport of patients with an EVD is a low-frequency transfer. Therefore, the use of clinical practice guidelines will enable best practice assessment and management.
{"title":"External Ventricular Devices in Air Medical Retrievals","authors":"Anita Wall BNSc, PGCertNSc (Int Care), DipMid, MAdvNPrac, PGCertNSc (Clin Teach), Grad Cert in Education , Clinton Gibbs MBBS, FACEM, MPHTM, DipDHM, PGCertAeromedRet , Lachlan Quick MBBS, FACEM, FCICM , Jan Sadewasser MBBS, FACEM, FRCEM, AFACAsM , Katie Clift MBChB, MRCS, FRCA, FANZCA , Richard C. Franklin PhD, MScoSci, FARLF, PHFAA","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Describe the clinical characteristics of patients with an external ventricular drain (EVD) air medically retrieved.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A retrospective chart audit of adults with an EVD air medically retrieved between January 2018 and June 2022 was conducted using the Retrieval Services Queensland database. Patients with a diagnosis of subarachnoid hemorrhage were identified, and then a manual review was conducted to identify EVD cases.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 60 patients met the review criteria. However, 34 patients did not have an EVD in situ, 1 was not transported, and 2 charts were non-retrievable, leaving 21 patients in this review. Of the patients, 76% were mechanically ventilated and 10% had no EVD drainage (suspected to be blocked). Blood pressure fluctuations occurred in 67% of the cases (79% during flight). Separate analgesia/anesthetic infusions were administered in 75% of the patients, with 83% requiring rate increases and 100% requiring boluses for increases in blood pressure. Hypertension in 3 patients occurred post-EVD being turned off and resolved when EVD was turned back on, and bolus sedation/analgesia was provided.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The air medical transport of patients with an EVD is a low-frequency transfer. Therefore, the use of clinical practice guidelines will enable best practice assessment and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 34-38"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.004
Kenneth Williams MD, MSc , Michael Peddle MD , Justin Smith BHA, MBA , Mahvareh Ahghari MEng , Brodie Nolan MD, MSc
Objective
Obesity rates are rising, affecting health care systems and causing potential delays in critical care transfers. Accurate weights are important for critical care transport to ensure the appropriate transport asset is selected and dispatched in a timely fashion. Inaccurate weight measurements can lead to various unnecessary delays, including not sending appropriate nonbariatric assets, delays due to secondary dispatch, and delays due to systemic overuse of these bariatric capable assets. The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate a weight prediction tool for patients with obesity undergoing critical care transport. The secondary objective was to compare the performance of this model to the Crandall weight prediction tool.
Methods
A prospective observational study was conducted, collecting data from patients transported by Ornge air ambulance between May 2022 and April 2023. Adults weighing >100 kg undergoing interfacility transfers were included. Four predictive models, using height, arm circumference, width, and girth measurements, were evaluated against actual patient weights and analyzed separately for males and females. Model performance was evaluated by mean squared error, mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error, R2, and F-statistic.
Results
The Ornge model using arm circumference and width demonstrated the highest accuracy and stability in predicting patient weight for both males and females. This model exhibited the lowest MAE of 12.2 kg, was within a margin of 20% error 91.2% of the time, and had an overall false negative error of 6.9%, outperforming all other models.
Conclusion
The Ornge arm circumference and width-based model offers a reliable method for predicting patient weight in air ambulance settings. Implementing this tool could improve the efficiency and safety of patient transfers by reducing delays caused by inaccurate weight estimations, thereby expediting access to critical care. Further research is recommended to validate these findings in larger and more diverse populations.
{"title":"Prospective Development and Validation of a Weight Prediction Tool for Patients With Obesity Undergoing Critical Care Transport Using Width and Arm Circumference","authors":"Kenneth Williams MD, MSc , Michael Peddle MD , Justin Smith BHA, MBA , Mahvareh Ahghari MEng , Brodie Nolan MD, MSc","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Obesity rates are rising, affecting health care systems and causing potential delays in critical care transfers. Accurate weights are important for critical care transport to ensure the appropriate transport asset is selected and dispatched in a timely fashion. Inaccurate weight measurements can lead to various unnecessary delays, including not sending appropriate nonbariatric assets, delays due to secondary dispatch, and delays due to systemic overuse of these bariatric capable assets. The primary objective of this study was to develop and validate a weight prediction tool for patients with obesity undergoing critical care transport. The secondary objective was to compare the performance of this model to the Crandall weight prediction tool.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A prospective observational study was conducted, collecting data from patients transported by Ornge air ambulance between May 2022 and April 2023. Adults weighing >100 kg undergoing interfacility transfers were included. Four predictive models, using height, arm circumference, width, and girth measurements, were evaluated against actual patient weights and analyzed separately for males and females. Model performance was evaluated by mean squared error, mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error, <em>R</em><sup>2</sup>, and F-statistic.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The Ornge model using arm circumference and width demonstrated the highest accuracy and stability in predicting patient weight for both males and females. This model exhibited the lowest MAE of 12.2 kg, was within a margin of 20% error 91.2% of the time, and had an overall false negative error of 6.9%, outperforming all other models.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The Ornge arm circumference and width-based model offers a reliable method for predicting patient weight in air ambulance settings. Implementing this tool could improve the efficiency and safety of patient transfers by reducing delays caused by inaccurate weight estimations, thereby expediting access to critical care. Further research is recommended to validate these findings in larger and more diverse populations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 52-58"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.001
Mahdi Mokhtari
{"title":"Corrigendum to “Comparison of the Agreement and Accuracy Between Paramedic and Hospital Diagnosis” Air Medical Journal, Volume 41 (2022), Pages 228-232","authors":"Mahdi Mokhtari","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.001","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Page 87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947762","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-27DOI: 10.1016/j.amj.2025.07.008
Murat Çetin MD , Derşan Onur MD , Başak Bayram MD , Sercan Bıçakçı MD , Mustafa Emin Çanakçı MD , Melih İmamoğlu MD , Çağlar Kuas MD , Sergey Motov MD , Brit Long MD , Michael Gottlieb MD
Objective
Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provide time-sensitive transport and advanced prehospital care. Although traditional bibliometrics (eg, citation counts) have measured academic impact, the role of alternative metrics (altmetrics), such as social media and news mentions, in capturing real-time scholarly influence remains underexplored in HEMS research. To evaluate the relationship between traditional citation metrics and altmetric indicators in HEMS-related publications and to identify trends in online engagement and academic dissemination.
Methods
This cross-sectional analysis included 817 HEMS-related articles published between 1984 and 2025, identified using Altmetric Explorer. Data were extracted from Altmetric Explorer, PlumX Metrics, and Springer Nature Citations, covering various traditional and alternative impact indicators. Descriptive statistics summarized citation and altmetric indicators. Spearman’s correlation analysis assessed relationships between Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), Mendeley readership, and citation counts from multiple sources (Dimensions, CrossRef, Scopus, PubMed). Geographic and temporal engagement patterns were also evaluated.
Results
The mean AAS was 11.18 ± 28.80, and the mean citation count (Dimensions) was 17.04 ± 24.48. A strong positive correlation was found between AAS and X (formerly Twitter) mentions (ρ = 0.723, P < .001). Mendeley readers had strong positive correlations with citation counts. However, overall correlations between AAS and citation counts were weak. Social media engagement was highest in the United Kingdom and the United States. Nordic countries dominated policy and guideline citations.
Conclusion
This is the first comprehensive altmetric analysis of HEMS-related publications. Although AAS reflects online attention, it correlates only modestly with traditional academic impact. Altmetrics offer complementary insight into research dissemination, especially in the digital age, and may inform more holistic evaluation strategies in prehospital and emergency medicine scholarship.
{"title":"Analysis of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Metrics-Altmetrics Score Perspective: HEMS-MAP","authors":"Murat Çetin MD , Derşan Onur MD , Başak Bayram MD , Sercan Bıçakçı MD , Mustafa Emin Çanakçı MD , Melih İmamoğlu MD , Çağlar Kuas MD , Sergey Motov MD , Brit Long MD , Michael Gottlieb MD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.07.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.07.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) provide time-sensitive transport and advanced prehospital care. Although traditional bibliometrics (eg, citation counts) have measured academic impact, the role of alternative metrics (altmetrics), such as social media and news mentions, in capturing real-time scholarly influence remains underexplored in HEMS research. To evaluate the relationship between traditional citation metrics and altmetric indicators in HEMS-related publications and to identify trends in online engagement and academic dissemination.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>This cross-sectional analysis included 817 HEMS-related articles published between 1984 and 2025, identified using Altmetric Explorer. Data were extracted from Altmetric Explorer, PlumX Metrics, and Springer Nature Citations, covering various traditional and alternative impact indicators. Descriptive statistics summarized citation and altmetric indicators. Spearman’s correlation analysis assessed relationships between Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), Mendeley readership, and citation counts from multiple sources (Dimensions, CrossRef, Scopus, PubMed). Geographic and temporal engagement patterns were also evaluated.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The mean AAS was 11.18 ± 28.80, and the mean citation count (Dimensions) was 17.04 ± 24.48. A strong positive correlation was found between AAS and X (formerly Twitter) mentions (ρ = 0.723, <em>P</em> < .001). Mendeley readers had strong positive correlations with citation counts. However, overall correlations between AAS and citation counts were weak. Social media engagement was highest in the United Kingdom and the United States. Nordic countries dominated policy and guideline citations.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This is the first comprehensive altmetric analysis of HEMS-related publications. Although AAS reflects online attention, it correlates only modestly with traditional academic impact. Altmetrics offer complementary insight into research dissemination, especially in the digital age, and may inform more holistic evaluation strategies in prehospital and emergency medicine scholarship.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"44 6","pages":"Pages 497-504"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145371291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号