Emergency Medical Network of
Helicopter and Hospital
(Nonprofit organization)HEM-Net
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HEM-Net Promotes the Spread of Emergency Medical Services
Using Doctor Helicopters

“HEM-Net” is the acronym of Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Network and the abbreviation of Emergency Medical Network of Helicopter and Hospital, a certified non-profit organization*. It is the only think tank on Doctor Helicopters in Japan and was established with the aim of promoting the spread of emergency medical services using Doctor Helicopters.
* “Certified non-profit corporation” means a corporation that has been certified by the competent authority as a corporation that has an appropriate governing body and business activities, and that contributes to advancement of public interest. The competent authority for HEM-Net is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Donors benefit from a high level of tax incentives and this benefit is also available to supporting members who have paid their supporter fees.

Message from Chairman of the Board

Ambulances carry patients. Doctor Helicopters carry doctors. Ambulances can only travel at up to 80km/h (ordinary roads) but the cruising speed of a Doctor Helicopter is about 200km/h. Doctor Helicopters have made it possible for a doctor to start treat a patient, even 50km away, within 15 minutes.

HEM-Net (Emergency Medical Network of Helicopter and Hospital, a certified non-profit organization) was established in December 1999 with the aim of promoting the spread of Doctor Helicopters, and celebrated its 20th anniversary in December 2019. As of March 2020, 53 Doctor Helicopters have been deployed in 44 prefectures, including Kyoto Prefecture, which belongs to the Union of Kansai Governments, while deployment in one to two years has been confirmed for a further two prefectures, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government has begun considering deployment. We are happy to be able to say that we are on the verge of deployment in all 47 prefectures.

While we have been working hard to expand quantitatively, we would next like to focus on improving the “quality” of Doctor Helicopter. We would appreciate your warm understanding and support.
Chairman of the Board

Programs

HEM-Net’s work is broadly divided into General Programs and the Doctor Helicopter Support Programs(Subsidy Programs).
【General Programs】
① Promoting research
We set certain topics, carry out continuing research, send observation teams to developed countries, and publish those results in reports. We also select topics of current interest, hold symposiums on those topics, and publish reports containing proposals.
② Disseminating information
We post the latest news in the News section on our website and have also accumulated an Archive containing reports and materials published by HEM-Net, past issues of HEM-Net Graph, our PR magazine, as well as an array of information about Doctor Helicopters, including papers, reports, and statistics. In addition, we also occasionally select topical themes and publish HEM-Net Plaza, a PR magazine contributing to the improvement of the quality of Doctor Helicopter emergency medical services. And, we proactively disseminate information by giving presentations at seminars and conferences held in various regions, writing papers, contributing articles, and publishing researched magazine and newspaper articles.
③ Expanding the network
In addition to working to expand our supporter membership and donor base, we are strengthening cooperation with the Japanese Society for Aeromedical Services and other academic societies, parliamentary associations and other related organizations.
【Doctor Helicopter Support Programs
(Subsidy Programs)】
We also run the following three programs to subsidize the founders of base hospitals with Doctor Helicopter operations for the cost of providing Doctor Helicopter emergency medical services. The funding put toward these programs is called the Doctor Helicopter Support Fund, which has been raised through donations from the private sector. These HEM-Net Subsidy Programs have been registered by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.
① Subsidy Program for Training Doctor Helicopter Doctors and Nurses
This program subsidizes training for Doctor Helicopter doctors and nurses in hospitals planning to deploy a Doctor Helicopter in the future, and began in FY2010.
② Safety Training Sessions at Doctor Helicopter Base Hospitals
The program subsidizes Doctor Helicopter Safety Training Sessions to facilitate communication and improved teamwork among the people involved in Doctor Helicopter operations, and began in FY2011.
③ Survey and Research Subsidy Program
This program subsidizes surveys and researches related to Doctor Helicopter aviation safety and aeromedical services, and began in FY2016.