Alice Springs, Australia: Royal Flying Doctor Service

What happens when you have very few people in a huge area ... and one of them gets sick? In the old days, that was something of a formula for disaster in the Outback. It was simply tough to connect doctors and patients without a long-distance drive by one or the other. When the situation is crucial and time is important, that's not the best solution.

By 1928, technology in a couple of different areas had improved. Airplane flights were taking place on a regular basis, and radio communication had improved dramatically. Someone had the idea to combine the two concepts. It was now possible for a doctor to fly into an area in the case of a very serious illness. It took some serious fundraising, but it worked.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service now stages about 200 missions a day around most of the country. It's a regional concept that spread through the middle of the continent.  

There is a visitors center in Alice Springs, and those interested can receive a quick course on the good work there. An old airplane is on display. As you can see by the photo, there's not much room inside that aircraft, but there's room for the patient as well as medical supplies and equipment and some personnel.