The proposed overhaul of Germany’s healthcare system faces a critical logistical challenge, according to Krystian Pracz, CEO of DRF Luftrettung, Germany’s second-largest non-profit air ambulance service. Pracz has issued a stark warning, asserting that current planning for the hospital reform fails to adequately address the supporting infrastructure vital for effective emergency medical transport.
The core of Pracz’s concern lies in the integration of robust landing infrastructure. He highlights the absurdity of some facilities possessing only a single parking space for helicopter landings, a situation deemed wholly inadequate for ensuring reliable patient care, especially considering the anticipated consolidation of hospitals and increased patient volumes per location. Pracz proposes the construction of dedicated landing zones at hospitals, emphasizing the need for these facilities to be operational day and night.
Beyond conventional landing pads, Pracz advocates for the implementation of “Points in Space” (PinS) technology – virtual, GPS-referenced landing points allowing for instrument approaches, even through cloud cover, enabling rooftop landings when visibility permits. This technology exists but remains largely unused due to regulatory hurdles. “Every major hospital should be equipped with a Point in Space” he stated, referencing a pilot project slated to commence next year in Schleswig-Holstein.
Pracz also cautions against the emergence of “unnecessary intermediate stops” in patient transport. He argues that patients requiring specialist care should be airlifted directly instead of being initially diverted to a less equipped local hospital, a scenario he predicts will become more frequent under the proposed reforms. He calls for clear, distinct protocols for intensive care transport planning to avoid inefficiencies and delays. However, he underscores that improved helicopter deployment planning hinges on a definitive roadmap outlining which hospitals will remain operational.
While acknowledging concerns about potential gaps in local care following hospital closures, Pracz insists that DRF Luftrettung’s extensive operational range guarantees access to suitable specialist facilities for all patients. He anticipates an expansion of air ambulance stations in the coming years, but emphasizes that ground-based emergency services remain the foundation of the system.
Critically, Pracz points to a significant discrepancy between alert frequency and actual patient transport needs. He reports that in 50-60% of cases, the patient is not ultimately transported, attributing this largely to misperceptions of the situation’s severity among those reporting emergencies. This highlights a need for improved triage and call assessment.
Finally, Pracz addresses the fragmented nature of Germany’s emergency dispatch system, noting that over 200 regional control centers operate under varying state guidelines. He demands standardized protocols and greater discretion for dispatchers, many of whom are currently compelled to initiate helicopter dispatches based on predetermined keywords, potentially leading to unnecessary resource deployment. He notes a shift from the helicopter serving as a rare intervention to being a mainstay of the emergency response system, demanding a more nuanced and considered approach to its utilization.