A
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) program being run by the
Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust (ARHT) and the Auckland District Health
Board (ADHB) is showing better health outcomes for patients.
In
a first the two-year pilot program, which began in September 2011, see
Emergency Department (ED) Doctors on board emergency flight missions.
HEMS Medical Director Dr Christopher Denny says being able to perform hospital-level critical interventions means the patient’s path to recovery is accelerated. Rather than individual actions, he says it is the way paramedics and doctors working as a seamlessly integrated team which makes the difference for patients.
The HEMS Doctors work closely alongside paramedics on a voluntary basis to bring the hospital to the roadside, performing necessary critical interventions such as emergency anaesthesia and the reduction of limb-threatening fractured or dislocated joints.
Pauanui
resident Ritchie Scott was grateful of the quick actions of the
helicopter crew last month when they were able to sedate him and
relocate his dislocated hip on the scene, saving him a painful four hour
ambulance ride to hospital. Mr Scott says his hip had healed remarkably
well, thanks to the swift treatment which minimized the harm to his hip
joint. “I have not had one bit of pain since. I’m very thankful and
appreciative,” he says.
In
another case, a man critically injured by a gunshot after a homekill
accident in Helensville earlier this year, is making a smooth recovery
and hopes to return to work soon.
Thanks
to the forewarning from the HEMS medical team on duty that day, a fully
prepared trauma team was waiting for him at the hospital Emergency
Department, when Simon Alex arrived close to death from his injuries.
Effective teamwork between St John Ambulance, the ARHT and the ADHD
helped to save his life.
Paramedics
and HEMS Doctors train together at the Auckland Rescue Helicopter base
in Mechanics Bay every day, using in-situ medical simulation with
mannequins to practice new and challenging procedures, giving them a
chance to work together, test processes and improve the system of care
they provide.
In
an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
in April 2012 comparing Helicopter and Ground Emergency Medical
Services, a study of more than 220,000 adult trauma patients showed that
transport by helicopter was associated with improved survival after
major trauma.
Clinical
Director of Auckland City Hospital’s Adult Emergency Department, Dr Tim
Parke, says: “The doctor-paramedic team, working with the crewmen and
pilots, ensures patients receive advanced time-critical treatments at
the earliest possible opportunity. Not only does this potentially
improve their clinical outcome, it can also streamline hospital care on
arrival allowing stretched emergency resources to be used more
efficiently.”
Dr
Parke notes that in some cases, like heart attack or serious
haemorrhage for example, the emergency department can be almost bypassed
altogether with the patient directed straight to definitive specialist
care.
“The
HEMS initiative has also been acting as a catalyst for us to further
develop our safety culture in the D and look at news ways to expedite
and improve care for patients who arrive at region’s hospitals by more
conventional transport. The support of the St John paramedics on the
ground for many of our missions has been a key part of the HEMS project
working so successfully for patients and we have developed a very
healthy respect foe the skilful job they do in stabilizing patients
before the helicopter team arrives,” says Dr Parke.
ARHT
chief executive Bob Parkinson says having emergency doctors on board
has been a valuable addition to the helicopter’s services.
“We
operated more than 750 missions in 2011, with this year looking to be
even busier. It’s fantastic that we’re seeing the benefits of this
program for our patients in their recovery times and overall health
outcomes.”
