GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN RESPONSE-TIME OF EMERGENCY TRAUMA SERVICE TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN QUEBEC

This study provides a geographic analysis of variation in temporal accessibility to emergency services by accident victims within regional municipalities in Quebec. The model employed takes account of various post-accident variables (supply and demand; the service organization) which existed in Quebec in 1987. The study population consisted of 8,989 accident victims who required ambulance service between June 1 and August 31, 1987. The study concludes that the time between the accident and the arrival of the victim at the hospital was longer than one hour (the ''Golden Hour'') in 25% of the regional municipalities in distant regions and in the areas close to Ontario and the United States. Emergency interventions took less than 40 minutes in suburbs to the North and South of Montreal Island. Forty-eight percent of the variance is linked to the presence and the type of emergency services with an ATLS professional available and 20% is linked with the variables of distance and time.