Outcomes of Providing Services to Patients Rescued by Boat Ambulance Service in Remote Areas around Bhumibol Dam, Tak Province, Thailand

Abstract

The study was conducted using a retrospective analysis based on the boat ambulance patient registration forms of the cases which were transferred from remote areas around Bhumibol Dam, Tak Province, Thailand between January 2019 and September 2021. The final analysis included 30 cases. The aims of the study were to identify the characteristics of the missions performed by boat ambulance and the analysis of factors that were different between patients who survived and died after transfer using a Chi-square test. There were 28 survivors, and two deaths. The majority (66.7%) of patients rescued was male, and aged between 15-60 years. The most common disease groups were trauma (20%), the digestive tract system (20%), and cerebrovascular disease (20%) equally. Most of them were triaged to ESI level 3. Of the transfers made, 66.7 percent were from Hinlard Nahai sub-district health promoting hospital. Two-thirds of the patients (66.7%) were hospitalized in Samngao Hospital. Transfers from Ban San Pa Puai sub-district health promoting hospital were found to be shortest in total mission time duration. Ninety-percent of patients were transported with long-tail boat by the boat ambulance service of a sub-district health-promoting hospital team. The factors that might be associated with death were that patients were triaged to ESI level 1, the destination hospital was Somdejprajoataksin Maharaj hospital, and they were transported by speed boat by the boat ambulance service of Samngao hospital team. This study reveals the current state of the boat ambulance service from the 4 sub-district health promoting hospitals to Somngao hospital to improve the efficiency of the system.