A Prospective Investigation of the Impact of Telemedicine and Telemetry on Global Medical Evacuation Rates

OBJECTIVES: This study examines whether the availability of telemedicine on offshore installations reduces medical evacuation rates.

METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study on offshore platforms in the United States, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Emergency evacuation rates were compared between locations with telemedicine (United States) and 2 control groups without telemedicine (Malaysia, United Kingdom).

RESULTS: Three hundred eighty-four cases in the telemedicine group and 261 cases in the control groups were included. The odds (adjusted and unadjusted) of medical evacuation were significantly higher for assets without telemedicine, contractors, and age older than 60 years. Analysis indicated a shift from emergency evacuation to routine transport for the telemedicine group.

CONCLUSIONS: Telemedicine reduces emergency medical evacuations from offshore installations. This reduction is likely due to an increased capacity for transforming emergency care into routine care at the offshore location.