An economical and proved helicopter program for transporting the emergency critically ill and injured patient in Maryland.

Abstract

There is a rapidly growing awareness that military experience with helicopter transport can be translated to civilian medical practice in those regions which have a suitable topography. The main obstacles to a widespread introduction of this mode of transportation for the critically ill have been related to cost of implementation, a lack of knowledge of the problems involved, and the absence of specialized reception centers. A unique and successful Air Med-Evac Program has been functional in the State of Maryland for over 3 years, and feeds into the University of Maryland Center for the Study of Trauma. The evolution of the Program has been described, and the utilization of state agencies such as the State Police Aviation Section, local and state fire department ambulance and rescue programs, and local and state law enforcement agencies renders the entire operation strikingly economical. The role of the ambulance and rescue squads and state police helicopter crews has been mentioned, and how original political and jurisdictional difference between them and the helicopter crews were solved. These and other practical problems of development and implementation have been presented in detail.