'First Implementation of Medical Staff Boarding 119 Helicopter Transport System'

24-Hour Pilot Operation in Northern Gyeonggi Region Until Year-End

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] The Fire Agency announced on the 19th that it will pilot operate the 119Heli-EMS transport system, in which a doctor boards the helicopter from dispatch to hospital transfer for the first time in the operation of fire emergency medical helicopters by the end of the year, providing initial diagnosis and specialized emergency treatment for critically ill emergency patients.

An ‘emergency medical helicopter’ is a helicopter operated by the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Health and Welfare, National Police Agency, Korea Coast Guard, Fire Agency, and Korea Forest Service, staffed with medical personnel and emergency rescuers to transport emergency patients. A ‘Doctor Helicopter’ is a helicopter with a doctor on board dedicated to air transport of emergency patients. Among emergency medical helicopters, only those operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, which dispatch medical teams from eight regional base hospitals nationwide (one each in Gyeonggi, Incheon, Gangwon, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, Jeonnam, and Jeju), fall under this category.

However, currently, Doctor Helicopters can only operate from sunrise to sunset, and due to institutional limitations, even if a critically ill emergency patient occurs in an area adjacent to a fire emergency medical helicopter, a Doctor Helicopter located relatively farther away is dispatched first according to regulations. Therefore, the Fire Agency sought to improve the air transport system to enhance the survival rate of emergency patients.

Fire emergency medical helicopters can operate 24 hours a day, day and night, and have the advantage of being able to fly up to a maximum distance of 400 km. Additionally, when coordination with the 119 ambulance team and helicopter is needed, it can be promptly carried out under the unified dispatch command of the Fire Agency.

This year’s pilot project designates one fire emergency medical helicopter owned by the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters Metropolitan 119 Special Rescue Team (located in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province) as a ‘119Heli-EMS helicopter with a doctor on board,’ providing specialized medical services from dispatch to emergency treatment and hospital transfer for critically ill emergency patients in the Gyeonggi area where there is no Doctor Helicopter base hospital.

The doctors boarding the 119Heli-EMS helicopter are composed of 20 medical personnel specializing in emergency medicine, surgery, and burn treatment from Seoul National University Hospital, Catholic University Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, and Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital, which have cooperative agreements with the Fire Agency. When a critically ill emergency patient or inter-hospital transfer case occurs, the helicopter operates by stopping at cooperating hospitals to board a doctor and then dispatching to the scene.

The helicopter dedicated to emergency medical dispatch is one large helicopter (H-225) from the Central 119 Rescue Headquarters, and if the designated helicopter cannot operate, one helicopter each from the Seoul (AW189) and Gyeonggi (AW169) aviation units will be used as substitute helicopters.

Through the 119 pilot project, it is expected that 119Heli-EMS will also primarily dispatch for critically ill emergency patients, playing a complementary role with Doctor Helicopters and creating synergy. After the pilot project ends this year, based on the analysis results of the effectiveness and economic feasibility of 119Heli-EMS operation, the service will be expanded in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Nam Hwayeong, Acting Commissioner of the Fire Agency, said, “With the operation of this 119Heli-EMS pilot project, a skyway dispatch system has been opened that allows fire helicopters to quickly dispatch to areas where critically ill emergency patients occur, just like the 119 ambulance team.” He added, “We will make every effort to save even one more critically ill emergency patient by leveraging the advantages of fire helicopters with a 24-hour dispatch system.”