Planning for a Rapid-Response Medical Helicopter Service in North Central BC
Prepared for Northern BC H.E.R.O.S.
BC Northern H.E.R.O.S. (H.E.R.O.S.) identified the need for a dedicated, rapid-response helicopter emergency medical system (HEMS) in North Central-Interior British Columbia. Such a system would have a critical impact in reducing response times for transport in medical emergencies that occur in the rural and remote areas of the region. It would also ultimately help to improve rescue and survival rates of those critically injured, sick or in distress.
In October 2015, H.E.R.O.S. approached the Community Development Institute (CDI) at UNBC to conduct an in-depth examination of existing helicopter rescue operations and different models of HEMS from across Canada. The objective of the study was to develop an understanding of different existing service and funding models, how they evolved, key success factors and lessons learned.
This information and the past experiences of other jurisdictions provided valuable insights into the types of services that may or may not be viable in the region in and around Prince George. The research shed light on the types of challenges that HEMS encountered and approaches to overcoming the barriers and sustaining the service over time. As such, the findings informed an action plan to guide H.E.R.O.S. in moving forward with and achieving their goal to secure HEMS in North Central-Interior BC.