An experimental medical transport service with fixed-wing air ambulance for humanitarian missions, where there is no alternative connection, guaranteeing a service in economic and operational terms, with quality levels of excellence.
The use of air travel in health care has generated two categories of services:
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Primary aeromedical service
It is universally known as HEMS (Helicopter Medical Emergency Service) hence mainly carried with helicopters and concerned with medical emergency.
Advantages: operating on hospital terraces and wherever there is minimal space;
Disadvantages: the service is suitable for relatively short distances, is not pressurized, has limited speed with high operating costs;
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Secondary aeronautical service
The fixed wing (turboprop or jet airplane) is used mainly for this service.
Advantages: has greater cabin capacity; for stretchers and medical crews; comes with intensive care equipment, allows easier patient handling; it is pressurized and flyes at high speed in all weather, for a long range, with lower operating costs per kilometer.
Disadvantages: it requires adequate airport facilities.
Possible transports with the secondary aeromedical service:
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according to the mission:
– Medevac (evacuation of patient)
– Interhospital (transport from inpatient to specialized hospital)
– Repatriation (repatriation after discharge)
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according to the type of transport:
– long-distance transport of patients who are unable to use alternative modes (e.g. cardiacs, polytraumatized, burned)
– pediatric transport (thermal cradle)
– teams and organs
– biomedical products
– urgent drugs and rare antidotes