title: Helicopter emergency medical service in Spain.
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.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, Hospital Universario de Canarias, University of La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain. eliputze@santandersupernet.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burillo-Putze
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alvarez Fernandez
mesh_terms: D017732:Air Ambulances / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019352:Censuses; D003625:Data Collection; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D016272:Occupational Health; D012637:Security Measures; D013030:Spain