When Forensic Pathology Met the Air Ambulance

How a pioneering collaboration is transforming how emergency services learn from patient deaths

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The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust integrated forensic pathology into its clinical governance, enhancing patient care and clinician well-being.
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The partnership arose from a need to bridge gaps in understanding causes of death in prehospital settings, particularly after patient fatalities.
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Access to autopsy findings was historically limited due to the separate coronial system, complicating communication between pathologists and air ambulance teams.
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Regular case reviews at EHAAT foster a supportive learning environment, allowing clinicians to engage openly without fear of blame.
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Autopsy findings help air ambulance teams prioritize injuries during care and improve responses to bereaved families' inquiries about patient outcomes.

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