North America air ambulance services are used to safely transfer sick, injured, and/or people seeking medical emergencies from one location to another. Air ambulance means airplane and helicopter equipped with essential medical equipment and staffed by medical professionals just like ground ambulances. Air ambulances are fitted with essential medical tools, kits, machines and equipment, and other emergency tools, as well as isolation pods for COVID-19 patients to provide immediate medical care to the patient till the patient reaches the nearest hospital. Air ambulance services used to quickly transport patients in life-threatening situations, as they help reach remote areas in emergency situations.
The term air ambulance refers to a business-class aircraft equipped for the transport of seriously ill patients. These aircraft carry medical equipment, as well as other supplies and medications. They can even carry stretchers to carry the patient to the appropriate hospital. A medical flight crew is also aboard an air ambulance to oversee patient care. It also carries emergency oxygen, respiration equipment, medication, and an ECG and monitoring unit, among other things. An air ambulance is designed to transport ill or injured patients to a hospital in a safe, convenient, and fast manner. Air ambulance to a remote area is ideal if traffic and other factors may cause a patient to be transported on foot.
Air ambulance team is equipped with specialized medical devices/equipment, such as advanced cardiovascular life support and critical care drugs. Teams also carry oxygen and specialized supplies for complex medical situations. Their training is comparable to that of a critical care unit or emergency department. Each member of the air ambulance crew is well equipped. It is also equipped with an ECG monitor and portable lab analyzer to monitor patient’s electrolytes, hemoglobin, and lactate levels. The equipment in air ambulance can include everything from breathing apparatus & monitoring systems, pacemakers and defibrillators to blood transfusion equipment alongside a comprehensive supply of medication.
As per market survey by Coherent Market Insights, air ambulance services market is estimated to be valued at US$ 4,934.9 million in 2020 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.4% over the forecast period (2020-2027).
United States Department of Transportation created an advisory committee to study the issues surrounding air ambulances. The committee’s purpose is to examine policy options and make recommendations to protect the patient. This committee consists of experts in the patient billing and patient care. A report on these issues help government officials better understand the costs of air ambulance services. However, this process is still far from being complete. Further, it is necessary to review current policies and make sure they cover air ambulance services. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has limited authority to regulate prices, routes, or services of an air carrier, including an air ambulance operator, in air transportation. Also read: Medical Aircraft
Air ambulance services have grown significantly over the years. According to the Association of Air Medical Services, over 550,000 patients in the United States use air ambulance services every year. Moreover, according to the Atlas & Database of Air Medical Services (ADAMS), there are more than 1,114 air ambulance bases in the U.S. Moreover, although an expensive option, the demand for air ambulance services has seen a boom since the outbreak of COVID-19, as many COVID-19 patients are being airlifted to provide essential treatment.
