25 Overutilization of Helicopter Transport in Smaller Burns - A Healthcare System Problem that Should be Corrected

Abstract Introduction Eighty eight percent of all patients burned in North America suffer burns of less than 20% TBSA. These patients may need care at a burn center, but do not necessarily require emergent helicopter transport (HEMS). We sought to identify a cohort of patients suffering smaller burns who do not benefit from HEMS to establish significant health care system savings. Methods A five-year retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from consecutive patients was performed. Patients were separated into two groups: HEMS and ground transport (EMS). A sub-analysis was performed between those with smaller burns, (