Title: On the use of economic evaluation of new technology in helicopter emergency medical services

Authors: Leif Inge Kjærvoll Sørskår; Eirik Bjorheim Abrahamsen; Håkon Bjorheim Abrahamsen

Addresses: Institute for Industrial Economics, Risk Management and Planning, University of Stavanger, Kjølv Egelands hus, Kristine Bonnevies vei 22, 4021 Stavanger, Norway ' Institute for Industrial Economics, Risk Management and Planning, University of Stavanger, Kjølv Egelands hus, Kristine Bonnevies vei 22, 4021 Stavanger, Norway ' Institute for Industrial Economics, Risk Management and Planning, University of Stavanger, Kjølv Egelands hus, Kristine Bonnevies vei 22, 4021 Stavanger, Norway; Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway

Abstract: When evaluating new technology in helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS), economic evaluation is normally part of the assessment. The outcome of economic evaluation may provide fruitful insight for the decision-makers, but, due to the complexity of the HEMS system, it is challenging to perform such evaluations in this context. A change in the components affects the whole system, and a lack of consideration of system components and their interactions may lead to unintended economic consequences when implementing new technology. Ultimately, this may cause a negative contribution to overall patient safety. We propose a conceptual methodology, using a systems model as part of the economic evaluation. The article is a revised and expanded version of a conference article presented at ESREL 2017, Slovenia.

Keywords: systems approach; economic evaluation; EE; helicopter emergency medical services; HEMS; technology appraisal; systems engineering initiative for patient safety; SEIPS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBCRM.2019.096693

International Journal of Business Continuity and Risk Management, 2019 Vol.9 No.1, pp.1 - 23

Received: 10 Apr 2018
Accepted: 02 Jun 2018
Published online: 07 Dec 2018 *

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