List Archives

Fri Nov 7 01:18:30 GMT 2008

I understand that Maryland is convening a group to decide on the make-up of 
the review panel in the very near future.

Another point that needs to be brought forth is that helicopters also 
transport non-trauma patients and advocates for these patients' care such as 
Internal Medicine/Critical Care/OB-GYN/Pulmonology/Cardiology/Orthopedic/and 
other specialist and sub-specialist and/or their association(s) need to be 
appropriately represented at the local, state, regional, and national levels.

Take care,
Bob

On Thu, 6 Nov 2008 20:10:29 EST
  KMATTOX at aol.com wrote:
> 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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Take care,

Bob

(307) 920 - 2020 cell

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