118 Emergency

As part of the Vacanze in Salute (Healthy Holidays) program, the emergency and urgent care system of ULSS 4 Veneto Orientale represents a structured hub integrated within the regional healthcare network.

The unique characteristics of the area—with over 22 million seasonal tourist stays, concentrated both in densely populated settings and in hard-to-reach areas—require an established and highly organized system, based on coordinated, timely, and highly specialized intervention models.

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A Multidimensional and Interconnected Network

The emergency medical organization in Eastern Veneto is structured across multiple integrated levels:

• First-level territorial facilities: seasonal first aid clinics, the Tourist Medicine service, the Territorial Emergency Station in Eraclea, First Aid Points (PPI) in Bibione, Caorle, Cavallino-Treporti, and Jesolo (PPIA), in addition to widespread coverage provided by the lifeguard towers operated by local tourism consortia.

• Hospital facilities: Jesolo Hospital, the provincial reference center for rehabilitation and support of specialist care for tourists (advanced PPI), and the hospitals of San Donà di Piave and Portogruaro, which host centers of clinical and specialist excellence and handle complex cases requiring hospitalization.

• The SUEM 118 emergency medical transport network, the operational branch of the Regional Health Service, which ensures real-time coordination of resources and rescue vehicles, both ground and air, including air ambulance operations across the entire Metropolitan City of Venice.

The efficiency of this model lies in its scalable response capability, enabling every emergency to be managed at the most appropriate level, guaranteeing continuity between clinical stabilization in the community and access to specialist hospital excellence.

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SUEM 118: A Regional Operations Center with International Standards

The Emergency Medical Service (SUEM 118) is the central coordinating body of the system and operates with:

• A regional operations center equipped with geolocation technology and shared triage protocols aligned with all reference healthcare facilities.

• Advanced ambulances and mobile intensive care units staffed by highly qualified personnel.

• Helicopters and water ambulances to ensure rapid access to coastal, island, and lagoon areas.

Thanks to SUEM, each patient can be swiftly referred to the most suitable healthcare facility, according to the nature of their condition, required level of care, and proximity.

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A System Serving the Veneto Region

The emergency management model in Eastern Veneto is considered a national best practice, capable of providing:

• Safety and timeliness for residents and millions of tourists, including international visitors.

• Operational support for interprovincial and international medical mobility, through an integrated system of patient flows and interoperability between facilities.

• Guaranteed access to regional medical specialties, including stroke units, cardiac surgery, pediatric intensive care, and other advanced care centers.

In case of need, a call to 118 activates a multi-center hospital system, leveraging the interconnected network of ULSS 4 Veneto Orientale facilities and the major regional hub hospitals (the University Hospital of Padua, ULSS 3 Serenissima, and Azienda Zero).