Helicopter Emergency Medical Services in 2017 Kermanshah Earthquake; a Qualitative Study

Becoming aware of experiences, and lessons learned in challenges can help optimize planning and improve efficiency and effectiveness. The present study aimed to address the challenges of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) from the viewpoint of the managers involved in HEMS in Kermanshah earthquake. This qualitative research was done using the content analysis method. The data were collected by semi-structured interviews. The study population consisted of directors who participated in management and transfer of injured people in the earthquake-stricken area of Kermanshah. Sampling was purposeful in the first stage and then by the snowballed method. In the present study, 479 codes were initially extracted regarding participants' perspectives and experiences and after eliminating duplicates, 53 codes were finalized. After analyzing the data, 4 categories and 12 sub-categories were extracted. In this research, lack of integrated management and process-oriented preparedness were the subjects with the highest number of codes. According to the findings of this study, it is suggested that comprehensive training programs should be implemented for effective management of the air emergency process during disasters such as earthquakes.