The primary mission of all emergency medical services is to provide pre-hospital emergency medical care. However, they often provide both emergency response and patient transfers on behalf of the healthcare industry. They provide easy access to health care services, especially during off-hours, and contribute significantly to telephonic triage and telephonic health care services through their advanced communications infrastructure.
Ambulance services are ideally positioned to be part of the front line of health care continuity. If it can evolve into out-of-hospital clinical care rather than just pre-hospital clinical care, it can contribute significantly to the functionality of the health care system.
Ambulances are primary providers that respond to medical and trauma emergencies on a 24/7 basis. They provide a disciplined and organized system that ensures appropriately qualified medical professionals frequently respond to potential or confirmed medical emergencies in a timely manner. Although medical rescue teams are provided by major trauma centers, coordination of the team and the rescue helicopter is handled by the ambulance communications center and, in most cases, critical care paramedics and crew members.
This is where alternative methods of medical care come into play. There have been a few cases around the world where people have had to leave traditional ambulances and seek help from air rescue or sea rescue. In areas with significant bodies of water, boat rescues are the most efficient option in such situations.
Marine ambulances are boats that provide emergency medical assistance and services in remote areas surrounded by a body of water. These ambulance boats are very similar to traditional ambulances and are equipped with all the necessary tools, including ventilators, surgical equipment, paramedic team, and other equipment needed to assist those in danger. In emergency situations, some rescue vessels or lifeboats can also be used as ambulances to transport survivors or those in danger.
Another type of ambulance used for emergency response or patient transport is air ambulance. As the name implies, an ambulance is a rescue service that uses helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft to transport sick or injured patients from one location to another. Ambulance services include evacuation services for emergencies from an accident or disaster site, routine transport of patients from one location or country to another, and the transfer of critical care from a low level of medical care to a higher level. Air ambulance services employ medical professionals, pilots, and aircraft technicians.