"Doctor Helo" lands at Hachinohe City Hospital, near Misawa Air Base, Japan. (Courtesy of Hachinohe City Hospital)
A Japanese hospital near Misawa Air Base has increased its emergency response capability thanks to the delivery of a government-funded helicopter.
Hachinohe City Hospital officials said they’ve already been putting the "Doctor Helo" service to work in its mission of covering the entire Aomori Prefecture, in northern Japan.
Shortly after its late March arrival, the civilian crew — with doctor and nurse — launched to the Shimokita Peninsula, which would be a three-hour ambulance drive in good weather.
"With the helicopter, it took less than 40 minutes" to respond, Masako Sekimukai, assistant chief of the hospital’s administration office, said during a phone interview.
"Doctor Helo is very effective for a region like Aomori, where medical resources are limited," she said.
Hospital officials invited 35th Fighter Wing commander Col. David Stilwell and 35th Medical Group commander Col. Guillermo Tellez to the ceremony celebrating the new service.
Tellez said the helicopter had been used that morning to transport a patient.
The hospital has worked with Japan Air Self-Defense Force personnel collocated on Misawa in regards to air traffic and control.
Discussions also have been held as to support for the U.S. military in an emergency situation, Tellez said.
"The service is available to anyone and, naturally, it is offered to any patient regardless of his or her nationality," Sekimukai said.
Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare launched the Doctor Helo project in 2001. Sixteen prefectures in Japan now have the emergency helicopter service, according to a spokesman from the ministry’s medical administration bureau.
The Japanese government and the local prefecture split the annual $1.7 million operation cost for each helicopter, the spokesman said.
The helicopter operates only between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. or until sunset during winter months, officials said.
