Medical assistance

Medical assistance refers to the services and support provided to individuals in need of healthcare. This encompasses a wide range of activities, from emergency response to long-term care. Here are some key aspects of medical assistance:

Emergency Medical Services (EMS):

Ambulances: Equipped with medical supplies and staffed by trained personnel, ambulances provide immediate care and transport to medical facilities. Air Ambulances: Helicopters or planes equipped for medical emergencies, used to transport patients from remote areas or during critical situations. First Responders: Includes paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and other professionals who provide initial care at the scene of an emergency. Hospital Services:

Emergency Rooms (ERs): Departments in hospitals dedicated to treating urgent and life-threatening conditions. Intensive Care Units (ICUs): Specialized hospital units providing comprehensive care and monitoring for critically ill patients. Surgical Services: Operating rooms and surgical teams prepared for both planned and emergency surgeries. Primary and Preventive Care:

Family Physicians: Doctors who provide general health care, routine check-ups, and preventive services. Community Health Clinics: Local clinics offering accessible medical care, including vaccinations, screenings, and treatment for common illnesses. Health Education: Programs aimed at educating the public about health maintenance, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyles. Specialized Medical Care:

Specialists: Doctors who focus on specific areas of medicine, such as cardiology, oncology, or pediatrics. Rehabilitation Services: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and other services aimed at helping patients recover and regain function. Mental Health Services: Counseling, therapy, and psychiatric care for individuals with mental health conditions. Home Health Care:

Visiting Nurses: Healthcare professionals who provide medical care to patients in their homes. Home Health Aides: Assist with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and medication management for individuals with chronic conditions or disabilities. Telehealth: Remote medical consultations and monitoring through digital platforms, allowing patients to receive care without visiting a healthcare facility. Pharmaceutical Services:

Pharmacies: Dispense medications and provide advice on their proper use. Medication Management: Assistance with managing prescriptions, understanding dosages, and avoiding drug interactions. Public Health Services:

Immunization Programs: Mass vaccination campaigns to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Disease Surveillance: Monitoring and controlling outbreaks of diseases through epidemiological studies and public health interventions. Health Campaigns: Public initiatives aimed at promoting health and preventing diseases, such as anti-smoking campaigns and obesity prevention programs. Medical Assistance Programs:

Insurance: Health insurance plans that cover medical expenses for individuals. Government Programs: Programs like Medicare and Medicaid that provide health coverage for eligible individuals, including the elderly, disabled, and low-income families. Charitable Organizations: Non-profits and NGOs providing medical assistance, particularly in underserved or disaster-affected areas. Medical assistance is a critical component of healthcare systems worldwide, ensuring that individuals receive timely and appropriate care to maintain and improve their health.

A observational study provides an overview of the implementation and impact of the helipad at the Bucharest Emergency University Hospital, Romania. The helipad, established in April 2019, is the only rooftop medical helipad in Bucharest authorized for day and night flights. Its influence extends beyond the local region, enabling the hospital to receive patients from various cities across Romania. The helipad has particularly strengthened the hospital's capabilities in cardiology, neurovascular emergencies, and neonatal care. Patients with acute myocardial infarctions or strokes can now be swiftly transported to the hospital for immediate intervention, whereas critically ill newborns can receive specialized care at the earliest stages of their lives. The objective of this article was to present a comprehensive timeline of the helipad's implementation and to demonstrate its transformative role in improving patient transportation, enhancing medical interventions, and elevating the overall efficiency of the health care facility.

The study is a retrospective regional caseload analysis based on data gathered from the Emergency Department of the University Emergency Hospital of Bucharest database. We included all 215 air transfer missions registered between December 2019 and December 2022, exactly 3 years apart from the beginning of the program.

The findings provide valuable insights into patient demographics, case distribution, and trends, highlighting the importance of specialized medical interventions at the University Emergency Hospital of Bucharest. In particular, the mean age of patients treated at the hospital was 55.9 years, with a higher representation of males (156) than females (59). The average duration of hospitalization was 10.68 days. The study also examined transportation statistics, showing a decrease in the average number of transports per month over the years. Cardiologic cases accounted for the highest frequency (62.8%) among the analyzed categories followed by neurosurgery (8.8%) and neurologic cases (8.4%).

The analysis provides important insights into patient demographics, case distribution, and trends. The findings highlight the significance of specialized medical interventions, particularly in cardiology and neurosurgery, which accounted for the majority of the cases. The implementation of the helipad has greatly improved patient aeromedical transportation and facilitated timely medical assistance ¹⁾.