Helicopter Safety, Standards, Review, etc

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Now that the new elected officials are considering Health Care Reform  
discussions, it is fully time to get a progress report on our conversations of a  
few weeks ago regarding Air Ambulance Helicopter Improved Safety and Air  
Standards, as well as clinical guidelines regarding appropriate use and review  of 
this form of prehospital transportation.   
 
I have not heard if there was a Maryland Panel Appointed by FAA, the  
Maryland Governor, the Maryland Legislature, or someone else.     No one that I know 
has been placed on a non-biased non-partisan  board.   I would hate to see the 
momentum created by this list  lost.  
 
I do understand that the helicopter industry itself has asked that the  
following safety standards be incorporated and required on ALL air  ambulance 
operations:   
 
1.    Terrain avoidance equipment
2.    Night sight goggles and instrumentation
3.    Dual pilots, especially under VFR flight conditions,  night, and 
unfamiliar terrain.  
 
I also understand that there are civilian groups recommending:
 
1.    All air ambulance flight activities be reviewed  every month by the 
Regional Trauma Authority, be it a state, county, or regional  activity
 
2.    All deaths and complictions in patients  transportated by air ambulance 
be reviewed by the trauma committee of the  hospital to which the patient was 
flown.
 
3.    Review of any interventional procedures, such as  needle 
decompressions, intubations, or pericardiocentesis be reviewed by the  trauma committee
 
4.    Each flight program develop time/distance  standards for their area so 
that patients would be taken to the trauma centers  based on the most 
expedicious method
 
5.     Each flight program develop a list of  diagnoses and conditions under 
which air ambulances would and would not be  used.  
 
6.    Such criteria be part of a state or ACS review of  trauma center 
designation process.  
 
I do believe that these were discussed at the ASHBEAMS,  ACEP,   ACEMSP, and 
some items discussed at the ACS COT  meetings.     There is becoming a 
groundswell across the  country for standards both in the clinical and the air safety 
 industry.       
 
K Mattox
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