Locating helicopter ambulance bases in Iceland: efficient and fair solutions.

Background: Fixed-wing air ambulances play an important role in healthcare in rural Iceland. More frequent use of helicopter ambulances has been suggested to shorten response times and increase equity in access to advanced emergency care. In finding optimal base locations, the objective is often efficiency-maximizing the number of individuals who can be reached within a given time.

[Air ambulance service from Akureyri, Iceland 2012-2020].

Introduction: This study investigated the use of fixed-wing air ambulance in Iceland between 2012 and 2020.

Material: Medical records were filled out during each flight and information afterwards entered into an electronic database.

Methods: The annual number of patient transports nationwide; triage scale category; reason for transportation, age and gender; and departure and arrival airports were analyzed.

European paramedic curriculum-a call for unity in paramedic education on a European level.

Background: There have been major developments in healthcare services as well as changes in demographics in recent years, and this has, among other things, led to increased demand for ambulance services. In general, this has also led to calls for more highly educated paramedics.

Main Body: Erasmus + provided a grant for three universities and one public service provider in four Nordic countries to work on a harmonised model curriculum for a bachelor's degree in paramedic education.

Patient handover between ambulance crew and healthcare professionals in Icelandic emergency departments: a qualitative study.

Background: Ambulance services play an important role in the healthcare system when it comes to handling accidents or acute illnesses outside of hospitals. At the time of patient handover from emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to the nurses and physicians in emergency departments (EDs), there is a risk that important information will be lost, the consequences of which may adversely affect patient well-being. The study aimed to describe healthcare professionals' experience of patient handovers between ambulance and ED staff and to identify factors that can affect patient handover quality.

[Management of patients with STEMI transported with air-ambulance to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavík].

Introduction: A good outcome of patients presenting with STEMI (ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction) depends on early restoration of coronary blood flow. Pre-hospital fibrinolysis is recommended if primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) cannot be performed within 90 minutes of first medical contact (FMC). The purpose of this study was to study transport times for patients with STEMI who were transported with air-ambulance from the northern rural areas of Iceland to Landspitali University Hospital in Reykjavík, and to assess if the medical management was in accordance with clinical guidelines.