The Gyeongbuk Doctor Helicopter, often called the "emergency room in the sky," celebrates its 12th anniversary today since its launch. Operated by Andong Hospital, part of the Andong Medical Foundation, this doctor helicopter has made a remarkable 3,643 dispatches over the past 12 years, setting a record for the most dispatches among the eight doctor helicopters nationwide. This figure significantly surpasses the average dispatch count for doctor helicopters across the country, demonstrating its crucial role in Gyeongbuk's emergency medical system.
The Gyeongbuk Doctor Helicopter, introduced on February 5, 2013, as the third of its kind in the nation, achieved a significant milestone on May 31, 2023, by becoming the first in the country to reach 3,000 dispatches. To date, it has received a total of 4,457 dispatch requests, made 3,643 actual dispatches, and successfully transported 3,458 severely ill emergency patients. Among the transported patients, those with severe trauma were the most numerous at 843 (24.3%), followed by emergency brain disease patients at 749 (21.6%), and heart disease patients at 493 (14.2%). This indicates the doctor helicopter's critical role in securing golden hour opportunities and providing prompt medical treatment to patients in life-or-death situations.
The doctor helicopter's dispatch areas are widely distributed across Gyeongbuk. Notably, a high proportion of dispatches occurred in medically underserved areas such as Yeongju (763 cases, 22.1%), Mungyeong (511 cases, 14.8%), and Bonghwa (436 cases, 12.6%), confirming its role as a lifeline for residents in regions with limited access to emergency medical services due to geographical constraints. Furthermore, it performs broad emergency missions extending beyond Gyeongbuk to adjacent areas like Daegu, Taebaek in Gangwon, and Danyang in Chungbuk, contributing to bridging the gap in medical services between regions.
The AW-109 model doctor helicopter operated by Andong Hospital measures 11.5m in length and boasts a maximum speed of 311 km/h. This helicopter is equipped with the latest emergency medical equipment, including intubation devices, ventilators, emergency ultrasound machines, and defibrillators, allowing it to function like a "flying emergency room." This cutting-edge equipment helps assess the patient's condition immediately on-site and perform emergency treatments.
The Andong Hospital Air Medical Team comprises highly specialized personnel, including 13 emergency medicine specialists, 4 paramedics, 4 nurses, and 9 flight team members. During each dispatch, a total of four individuals—a pilot, co-pilot, specialist, and paramedic (or nurse)—board the helicopter, demonstrating optimal teamwork to save patients' lives. They focus on stabilizing the patient's condition by providing continuous monitoring and emergency treatment during transport.
Kang Shin-hong, Chairman of Andong Hospital, emphasized that the doctor helicopter can reach any part of Gyeongbuk within 40 minutes. He also stated that as a collaborating hospital for the Gyeongju APEC Summit in October, they are thoroughly preparing for national disaster, emergency, and urgent situations. This highlights that the doctor helicopter is not merely a means of patient transport but a core asset in the disaster response system, capable of playing a crucial role even in national emergencies.
Currently, eight doctor helicopters are deployed and operating in major regions across South Korea, including Gyeongbuk (Andong Hospital), Gangwon, Chungnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeonggi, and Jeju, starting with Incheon and Jeonnam in 2011. Doctor helicopters significantly contribute to protecting the lives and health of the public by providing prompt medical services to emergency patients in medically vulnerable areas, such as islands and mountainous regions. Their role is expected to become even more vital in the future.
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