Interhospital transport of critically ill patient with dedicated ICU ventilator

Introduction Emilia Romagna is a region caracterized by the presence of Three Integrated Trauma Systems Care (ITSC). Severe, resource-consuming patients are centralized in first level Hubs to guarantee high quality and efficient care. Every ITSC has a Trauma Center (Hub) connected with a net of peripheral hospitals (Spokes). A Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) has been active since June 14 1986 at the Ospedale Maggiore, it covers most of the Bologna and Modena region and part of Ferrara, in addition to this, a new Trauma Center specialized in pediatric patients is developing outside the region. This means transfer times of atleast 50 to 60 minutes by helicopter to consent patients to move from an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to another. Obviously the HEMS play a fundamental role in such a setting.