Higher energy prices are associated with diminished resources, performance and safety in Australian ambulance systems
Brown, Lawrence H., Chaiechi, Taha, Buettner, Petra G., Canyon, Deon V., Crawford, J. Mac, and Judd, Jenni (2013) Higher energy prices are associated with diminished resources, performance and safety in Australian ambulance systems. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 37 (1). pp. 83-89.
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Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the impact of changing energy prices on Australian ambulance systems.
Methods: Generalised estimating equations were used to analyse contemporaneous and lagged relationships between changes in energy prices and ambulance system performance measures in all Australian State/Territory ambulance systems for the years 2000–2010. Measures included: expenditures per response; labour-to-total expenditure ratio; full-time equivalent employees (FTE) per 10,000 responses; average salary; median and 90th percentile response time; and injury compensation claims. Energy price data included State average diesel price, State average electricity price, and world crude oil price.
Results: Changes in diesel prices were inversely associated with changes in salaries, and positively associated with changes in ambulance response times; changes in oil prices were also inversely associated with changes in salaries, as well with staffing levels and expenditures per ambulance response. Changes in electricity prices were positively associated with changes in expenditures per response and changes in salaries; they were also positively associated with changes in injury compensation claims per 100 FTE.
Conclusion: Changes in energy prices are associated with changes in Australian ambulance systems' resource, performance and safety characteristics in ways that could affect both patients and personnel. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms of, and strategies for mitigating, these impacts. The impacts of energy prices on other aspects of the health system should also be investigated.
| Item ID: | 25136 |
|---|---|
| Item Type: | Article (Research - C1) |
| ISSN: | 1753-6405 |
| Keywords: | ambulance services; energy prices; health economics; Australia |
| Date Deposited: | 25 Feb 2013 22:34 |
| FoR Codes: | 04 EARTH SCIENCES > 0401 Atmospheric Sciences > 040104 Climate Change Processes @ 20% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111708 Health and Community Services @ 50% 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111799 Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified @ 30% |
| SEO Codes: | 85 ENERGY > 8598 Environmentally Sustainable Energy Activities > 859803 Management of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy Activities (excl. Electricity Generation) @ 20% 88 TRANSPORT > 8898 Environmentally Sustainable Transport > 889802 Management of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Transport Activities @ 40% 92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920299 Health and Support Services not elsewhere classified @ 40% |
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