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Helicopter emergency medical service in Spain
G Burillo-Putze1, I H Duarte, J A Alvarez Fernandez
1Emergency Department, Hospital Universario de Canarias, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. eliputze@santandersupernet.com
Abstract:
No studies had been conducted about Spanish HEMS programs, so we conducted a nationwide survey by phone from January to June 1999. We identified 18 HEMS programs in 13 regions, which transported 4870 patients in 1998. The primary/interhospital missions ratio was 51.25/48.75. In 78% of responding programs, the medical crew was a physician and a nurse. Only 33% of HEMS had standard medical equipment; most lacked noninvasive blood pressure monitors, and one-third of the medical personal were correctly protected with flight helmets and flight suits. It is necessary to study the cost-effectiveness of the Spanish model of HEMS.