Country/HEMS name | Staffing Model | HEMS-Specific Qualifications/Experience |
---|---|---|
Germany (Eich et al., 2009) | Ambulance–based emergency physician | • Extensive experience in a doctor-staffed ambulance (attended at least 300 incidents as ambulance-based emergency physician) • Hold an Advanced Life Saving Certificate • Completed a 4-month rotation in paediatric anaesthesia |
The Netherlands (Gerritse et al., 2010) | Anaesthesiologist or trauma surgeon staffed and specialised nurse | • Board certified trauma surgeon or anaesthesiologist with 6 months’ extra training in adult and paediatric emergency care, pain management and extrication technique • Nurse training not described |
Norway (Bjornsen et al., 2018) | Doctor-staffed by anaesthetic flight physicians | • Board certification in anaesthesiology • Experience in paediatric anaesthesiology • Completed a course in trauma care • Have knowledge and proficiency in CPR |
Great Western Air Ambulance Service, United Kingdom (Von Vopelius-Feldt, 2014) | Prehospital critical care consultant and critical care paramedic for “80% of shifts” | • Doctors undertake a training programme with “specific competencies and mentored practice, coupled with theoretical and simulation training” • Critical care paramedics “completed a university-based theory and practical training course with mentoring and supervised experience, followed by the successful completion of a comprehensive qualifying assessment.” |
Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance, United Kingdom (Fullerton, 2009) | 2 crew mixes: doctor and paramedic OR paramedic-paramedic. Dependant on staff availability | • Paramedic crew undergo 40 h’ additional clinical training • Doctors comply with eligibility requirements, including at least registrar level training and extensive training & exposure to acutely ill patients |
Bristol Great Western Air Ambulance and Wiltshire Air Ambulance, United Kingdom (Von Vopelius-Feldt, 2014) | 2 crew mixes: doctor and paramedic OR paramedic-paramedic. Dependant on staff availability | • Senior registrar or consultant in emergency medicine or anaesthesia • Critical care paramedic with over 5 years’ experience and postgraduate certificate in pre-hospital critical care |
Midlands Air Ambulance, United Kingdom (McQueen, 2015) | • Doctor-staffed for high severity trauma • Paramedic-staffed for support of ambulance crews when doctor unavailable or call would not benefit from doctor intervention | • Paramedics “have received additional training and operate as critical care paramedics.” • Doctor is senior trainee in emergency medicine, critical care or anaesthesia and has undergone specialist training to deliver enhanced prehospital care, RSI |
Suwon, South Korea (Jung, 2016) | • Multi-disciplinary staff for severe trauma (5 trauma surgeons, 1 emergency physician, a nurse practitioner and emergency technician • Emergency technician staffed for minor injuries in inaccessible locations | • Emergency technicians give basic life support procedures with phone support from the hospital medical team |
Japan (Abe, 2014) | • Doctor and nurse staffed | • No specific details provided |
Air Ambulance Victoria, Australia (Andrew, 2015) | • Intensive Care Flight Paramedic and air crewman | • Existing Intensive Care Paramedics complete an additional 9-months’ postgraduate training in aeromedical rescue. Also acquire skills including paediatric RSI, mechanical ventilation, insertion of arterial lines and invasive monitoring, administration of a wider range of medications • Air crewmen have 120 h training to fulfil the role of Emergency Medical Technician |
Greater Sydney Area HEMS, Australia (Burns, 2017) | • Doctor and paramedic staffed | • Doctors are board-certified senior registrars from Emergency Medicine or Anaesthesia; minimum of 5 years’ postgraduate experience • Paramedics are critical care specialists with a minimum of 10 years’ experience and additional training in pre-hospital and retrieval medicine. |
East Denmark (Afzali, 2013) | • Doctor and paramedic staffed | • Consultant anaesthesiologist experienced in intensive care pre-hospital • Paramedic with special training in navigation and radio communication techniques. |
Central Denmark (Rognås, 2013) | • Doctor and EMT staffed | • Anaesthesiologists with at least 4.5 years’ experience in anaesthesia. All work in and outside operating theatre as part of their daily work. |
Finland (Heinanen, 2018) | • Doctor staffed | • Mainly anaesthesiologists specialised in emergency care |
France (Desmettre, 2012) | • Team from hospital led by emergency physician | • No details provided |
Dalarna, Sweden (Kornhall, 2018) | • Doctor and HEMS crewmember | • Doctor has board certification in anaesthesiology • HEMS crewmember is registered pre-hospital nurse |
Pittsburgh, United States (Sperry, 2018) | • Paramedic and flight nurse staffed | • Not described |