Stars Air Ambulance: an Information Systems Challenge Case Study
Case Analysis 2 BITM 522
STARS
1. Situation
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) is a community based not for profit organization in Alberta, Canada. Their mission as an emergency medical response organization is to provide expedited transportation services for critically injured or ill patients via their specialized fleet of helicopters. After their formation in 1985, the organization quickly grew with funding through private donations and partnerships with community and government agencies. According to STARS Governance And Financial Report 2010[1], STARS’ average net revenues over the past three years were $28.9 million from all sources — operations, fundraising and investments. Over the same period, average expenditures were $29.7 million. Average net revenues over average expenditures were $(0.8) million. With such budgeting shortfalls, the organization has to find ways to cut costs. Led by Dr. Greg Powell, a former emergency room physician now CEO, the STARS mission is to “find patients, take care of patients, and transport patients.” The organization employs approximately 250 full and part time staff in addition to the hundreds of volunteers from the medical community. STARS has an average of 3.4 missions per day, and more than 1,000 each year.
2. Strategy
The current organizational purpose is simple; to provide “a safe and rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for the critically ill and injured.” The STARS work environment is made up of professionals working in a cohesive, team oriented model. The air medical crew (AMC) is well staffed and always prepared for a mission. Once a call for an airlift comes in, the crews quickly and efficiently evaluate the situation and are airborne within eight minutes of notification. The current technical strategy is the use of the Emergency Link Center as the central location for communication between the AMC and other medical professionals waiting at incident
STARS
1. Situation
The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) is a community based not for profit organization in Alberta, Canada. Their mission as an emergency medical response organization is to provide expedited transportation services for critically injured or ill patients via their specialized fleet of helicopters. After their formation in 1985, the organization quickly grew with funding through private donations and partnerships with community and government agencies. According to STARS Governance And Financial Report 2010[1], STARS’ average net revenues over the past three years were $28.9 million from all sources — operations, fundraising and investments. Over the same period, average expenditures were $29.7 million. Average net revenues over average expenditures were $(0.8) million. With such budgeting shortfalls, the organization has to find ways to cut costs. Led by Dr. Greg Powell, a former emergency room physician now CEO, the STARS mission is to “find patients, take care of patients, and transport patients.” The organization employs approximately 250 full and part time staff in addition to the hundreds of volunteers from the medical community. STARS has an average of 3.4 missions per day, and more than 1,000 each year.
2. Strategy
The current organizational purpose is simple; to provide “a safe and rapid, highly specialized emergency medical transport system for the critically ill and injured.” The STARS work environment is made up of professionals working in a cohesive, team oriented model. The air medical crew (AMC) is well staffed and always prepared for a mission. Once a call for an airlift comes in, the crews quickly and efficiently evaluate the situation and are airborne within eight minutes of notification. The current technical strategy is the use of the Emergency Link Center as the central location for communication between the AMC and other medical professionals waiting at incident