Advanced prehospital medical care with air transport was introduced in the Netherlands in May 1995. The fi rst helicopter Mobile Medical Team, also called Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) was a joint venture initiative of the VU Medical Center in Amsterdam and the Algemene Nederlandse WielrijdersBond (ANWB). The medical team consisted of a trauma surgeon or anaesthesiologist and a specialised trauma nurse, whereas, the ANWB Medical Air Assistance (MAA) helicopter company supported the prehospital medical care by providing a helicopter and a helicopter pilot. The HEMS team was on stand-by during daylight hours, from 7.00 – 19.00 hours, and able to take off within 2 minutes after an emergency call. This provisional Helicopter Emergency Service was connected to a study on cost-effectiveness from 1995 till 1998. In this study the cost-effectiveness of HEMS was established for trauma.

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ANWB Medical Air Assistance, Biomet Nederland B.V., Consument en Veiligheid, Directie Ambulancezorg en GHOR, Erasmus MC, Afd Alg. Heelkunde, GlaxoSmithKline, J.E. Jurriaanse Stichting, KCI-Medical B.V., LIVIT Orthopedie, Olympus Nederland B.V., Promotion Medical B.V., Stryker Nederland B.V., Synthes B.V., Traumacentrum Zuid West Nederland
P. Patka (Peter) , I.B. Schipper (Inger)
Erasmus University Rotterdam
hdl.handle.net/1765/18190
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Ringburg, A. (2009, June 10). Helicopter Emergency Medical Services: effects, costs and benefits. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/18190