Air Ambulance
Air ambulance services are becoming increasingly popular as a means of transporting critically ill or injured patients from one medical facility to another. While ground ambulances are suitable for transporting patients within a local area, air ambulances are needed for medical emergencies requiring transportation over longer distances quickly. In this article, we will discuss what air ambulances are, how they work, and their importance in emergency medical care.
What is an air ambulance?
An air ambulance is a helicopter or airplane that is equipped with specialized medical equipment and staffed with trained medical professionals. The primary role of air ambulances is to transport critically ill or injured patients from one medical facility to another rapidly. Patients with conditions like cardiac disease, head trauma, severe burns, and spinal cord injuries may require quick transportation over longer distances, which makes air ambulances essential.
Air ambulance services are generally divided into two categories: hospital-based and privately-owned. Hospital-based air ambulances are based at hospitals that have a helicopter landing pad on their premises and are primarily used for internal transfer of patients. Private air ambulance services, on the other hand, are available to the public and are typically more expensive.
How do air ambulances work?
Air ambulance services work in coordinated systems that ensure a patient receives the care they need from the time they are transported from one hospital to another. In most cases, the patient's primary care physician or specialist will contact the air ambulance service and provide them with medical information about the patient, including their diagnosis, medical history, current condition, and other relevant details.
The air ambulance service will then dispatch a team of medical professionals, including a flight nurse and paramedic, who will board the helicopter or airplane with the necessary equipment and medications for the patient. Once on board, the medical professionals will stabilize the patient's condition and monitor their vital signs during the flight.
During the transport, the team will also communicate with the receiving hospital, providing updates on the patient's condition and any other information that may be required. In cases where the patient requires continuous care, medical professionals from the receiving hospital may also be on board the air ambulance, ready to take over care once the patient arrives.
Importance of air ambulances in emergency medical care
Air ambulances play a crucial role in emergency medical care, primarily because of the speed with which they can transport patients over long distances. In many cases, patients require specialized care that is only available in specific medical facilities, and air ambulances can quickly transport them to the required location.
Another critical factor contributing to the importance of air ambulances is the specialized medical equipment on board. Air ambulances are equipped with advanced medical technology that is not available on ground ambulances, making it possible to deliver life-saving interventions while in transport.
Finally, air ambulances offer a level of flexibility that is unmatched by ground transportation. For instance, air ambulances can be used to navigate difficult terrain or transport a patient from an island to the mainland, scenarios where ground ambulances are not equipped to handle.
Benefits of air ambulances
Besides speed, specialized equipment, and flexibility, air ambulances have several other benefits compared to ground ambulances. Some of these benefits include:
Range - air ambulances can travel long distances with minimal interruption, making them ideal for transporting patients over state or national borders.
Efficient transport - air ambulances do not get stuck in traffic or face any other obstacles that can delay patient transport.
Expert medical care - air ambulance medical professionals are experts in critical care medicine and deliver specialized medical interventions while transporting patients.
Location independent - air ambulances can land almost anywhere, making it easy to transport patients from remote areas and isolated locations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, air ambulances have become essential in emergency medical care, primarily because of their speed, flexibility, specialized equipment, and medical expertise. For patients requiring transport over longer distances or to specialized medical facilities, air ambulances are the go-to option. However, with their specialized services, air ambulances can be expensive, making them challenging for some patients to access. Therefore, healthcare insurers need to cover air ambulance services to ensure comprehensive medical care for everyone, regardless of their financial position.