title: Introduction of a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service in eastern Shizuoka prefecture in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the operating situation of a physician-staffed helicopter emergency medical service in eastern Shizuoka prefecture.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed using the conveyance records reported by staff members of the physician-staffed helicopter. A comparison between 2007 (n = 619) and 2012 (n = 678) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to the sex, ratio of cardiopulmonary arrest, and survival ratio. In contrast, the duration from the request of dispatch to arrival at the hospital in 2007 was significantly longer than that in 2012 (53.7 vs 48.2 minutes, P < 0.0001). The average age in 2007 was significantly younger than in 2012 (55.7 vs 59.4 years, P < 0.01). The ratio of trauma case in the 2012 was higher than that in 2007 (47 vs 37%, P < 0.001). The ratio of severe cases in 2007 was higher than in 2012 (45 vs 39%, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Japan is an aging society. In eastern Shizuoka prefecture, the increase in the number of trauma and minor injury cases may have increased due to the emphasis on the importance of early medical intervention by the fire department.
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan. Electronic address: komichiwonasu@hotmail.co.jp.
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Omori
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiromichi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohsaka
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Kouhei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mariko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Obinata
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oode
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujii
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Mutsumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakurada
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suwa
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.affiliation: Shizuoka Hospital, Juntendo University, Shizuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Youichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yanagawa
mesh_terms: D017732:Air Ambulances; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008485:Medical Audit; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010819:Physician's Role; D012189:Retrospective Studies