Effective Medical Training Courses for Medical Helicopter Crews in South Korea

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The Ministry of Health and Welfare of korea started operating the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) System in 2011 to improve emergency medical services given by physicians aboard helicopters. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the HEMS education program for its effectiveness and satisfaction from trainees. METHODS: A survey of trainees was conducted at the very end of training and education. Trainees for a HEMS crew surveyed included doctors (8), nurses (4), emergency medical technicians (12), pilots (10), flight dispatchers (4) and an administrator (1). The study period was from August 8, 2011 to August 12, 2011. The amount of HEMS education was 16 hours, including 8 hours of theoretical education, 5 hours of simulation and 3 hours of table-top simulation. RESULTS: In an analysis of programs according to trainee satisfaction, the theoretical training program received an average of 4.2+/-0.7 points and; the practical and simulation training program received; 4.4+/-0.8 points. The simulated practical training program thus received a higher score than theoretical education, but the difference was insignificant (p=0.834). CONCLUSION: For the HEMS training programs, the practical and simulation training satisfaction score were higher than the theoretical program. A focus on simulation programs for HEMS could therefore serve as a goal of the HEMS education program.