Doctor Helicopter as a Solution to Reducing the Mortality Rate of Emergency Trauma Patients

Abstract

A. Introduction

             Dr. Helicopter is a helicopter with medical personnel on board and used exclusively for emergency patient care and transport. Transferring trauma patient to adequate trauma center is critical for patient’s survival. The death rate of preventable trauma patients in Korea stood at 35.2% as of 2010, which is higher than the figure of 15% in advanced emergency medical countries. We would like to suggest the activation of Dr. Helicopters as a solution to increase patient survival.

B. Objective

             Through analysis and interpretation of the paper, we are going to reveal that Dr. Helicopters help increase patient survival.

C. Method

             List of papers and journals that we have analyzed.

C-1. Gang Gyeongguk(2015), 「Association between helicopter versus ground emergency medical service in inter-hospital transport of trauma patients」, Journal of trauma and injury, 28(3)

C-2. Kim Taeyeon(2018), 「Effectiveness of the trauma team-staffed helicopter emergency medical service」, Health policy and management, 28(4), 411-422

D. Result

1. Helicopters are more efficient than ambulances.

     Result of ‘method C-1’ shows that mortality rate for patients transported by ambulance and helicopter may not differ significantly. However, since the severity of patients transported by helicopter is worse than that of ambulances, and because helicopters have faster access to more diverse areas than ambulances, one can conclude that helicopters are more efficient than ambulances.

1. Trauma team-staffed helicopters are more efficient than paramedics.

     According to ‘method C-2’, transport team made up of paramedic (119-HEMS) and trauma team involving physician (TTS-HEMS) shows significant difference. Although the severity of patient was higher in TTS-HEMS, it performed more first aid and had lower risk of patient death.

E. Conclusion

             Result shows that trauma team-staffed helicopters can effectively increase patient survival. Therefore, Dr. Helicopters equipped with medical equipment should be more activated to transport trauma patients.