First care signifies such special service within health care, which in cooperation with patient transportation, rescue services and the emergency exchange enables focusing of health care measures and initializing necessary care and, when so needed, implementing the aforesaid outside medical establishments already prior to transportation until the patient has been transferred to hospital care. It is also part of the safety services.
If one were to split-level the first care services, there could be up to a four-tiered system of care units: the first care unit, the basic level unit, the care level unit and the MD unit. The first care unit can be any one of the response units within the system, from fire engine to helicopter.
Doctor in charge
Each hospital and health centre has to choose a doctor in charge of medical rescue. If such a doctor is not chosen, the medical director is in charge of these activities. This doctor in charge, the Chief Medical Officer, supervises and develops the first care and patient transport in his/her area, as well as sees to the training of participating personnel. Sufficient working time has to be reserved for the Chief Medical Officer for these duties; the minimum is two work days per month.
The units participating in first care are to notify up-to-date information on their chief medical officer to the doctor in charge of medical rescue at the hospital district level.
Chief Medical Officer for first care within the Hospital District of Southwest Finland (60 %; Mon, Wed, Fri)
Arno Vuori |
