Is Air EMS Overutilized for Kids?

Tune in to the latest PEC Podcast! Editors Maia Dorsett and Joelle Denofrio-Odmann sit down with authors Dr. Vishal Naik and Dr. Sriram Ramgopal to unpack their compelling research, "Rapid Discharge Following Air Transport in Children".

This multicenter study, published in Prehospital Emergency Care, reveals that more than two-thirds (66.0%) of children transported to the Emergency Department (ED) by air EMS are either discharged directly from the ED (20.0%) or within 48 hours of admission. While air transport is crucial for critically ill children, these findings emphasize the need for additional research into the decision-making processes surrounding pediatric air EMS to support optimal resource utilization and patient care.

Dr. Naik and Dr. Ramgopal discuss key factors associated with rapid discharge, including lower triage acuity and certain diagnoses like musculoskeletal and connective tissue diseases. Discover what this high rate of rapid discharge implies for potential over-triage in pediatric air medical transport systems.

Read the full article here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10903127.2025.2531074?src=#abstract.

Featured Article

Naik, V., Bhardwaj, P., & Ramgopal, S. (2025). Rapid Discharge Following Air Transport in Children. Prehospital Emergency Care, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/10903127.2025.2531074
🔗 Read the article: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10903127.2025.2531074?src=#abstract.

As always THANK YOU for listening.

Hawnwan Philip Moy MD (@pecpodcast)

Scott Goldberg MD, MPH (@EMS_Boston)

Jeremiah Escajeda MD, MPH (@jerescajeda)

Joelle Donofrio-Odmann DO (@PEMems)

Maia Dorsett MD PhD (@maiadorsett)

Lekshmi Kumar MD, MPH(@Gradymed1)

Greg Muller DO (@DrMuller_DO)

Ariana Weber MD (@aweberMD4)

Rebecca Cash PhD (@CashRebeccaE)

Michael Kim MD (@michaeljukim)

Rachel Stemerman PhD (@steminformatics)

Nikolai Arendovich MD