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Mon Nov 24 19:56:24 GMT 2008

On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 2:33 PM, Robert Smith <rfsmithmd at comcast.net> wrote:

> Well Ellen Mackenzie is a life hero of mine and I wouldn't characterize her
> as ever anything put pro truth.

Duly noted....she is probably one of the few outside of the small group of
critics assembled through the Trauma-List who is advocating for proper
allocation of helicopter resources in areas where would likely deliver
benefits to patients.  That is not the case in Maryland and unless she is
willing to stand up and defend the position that the only helicopter base in
the state that is needed is the one in Cumberland, I would think the powers
that be at MIEMMS will simply attempt to use her prior research by twisting
it to help advocate that there is benefit in having so many helicopters.

I would really like to believe that Dr. Morris and Dr. MacKersie are
> professional enough and have enough integrity to do a good job getting the
> truth out. They're certainly smart enough to do a good job.

Agreed, I know they are smart enough, but I don't know if the fear of a
ripple effect upon their own services might be sufficient to warrant them to
play their cards close to the vest and not stick their necks out.

>
>
> I hope I don't sound too naïve or sophomoric if I say that it seems hard to
> convene an expert panel on HEMS and then exclude people because they work
> in
> or have done research in that area.

No, but they should have included equal numbers of people who have
demonstrated through their words and actions that they are critical of
aeromedical operations as they did with people who seem to have demonstrated
their support for the practice through their words, actions and positions.

> If you're hoping the panel may say that HEMS in Maryland should be
> disbanded then I guess being involved with a HEMS service would make it
> unlikely that a person would vote to do that.

That was what I was getting at.  I don't think the system should be entirely
disbanded, but I think it should be heavily reduced so that lives can be
saved.

> I would hope it wouldn't disqualify them from being honest about whether a
> service
> is being used inappropriately.

I think the fact that Dr. McSwain- probably one of the most eminent surgeons
in this country now that Dr. Debakey is gone- was precluded from taking part
because of his willingness to be honest is pretty strong evidence that Bass
and his lackies simply wanted a panel of yes men and only included Dr.
Bledsoe so they have someone to point as evidence of a fair and balanced
approach to the discussion at when we point out that the panel was about as
biased as a jury in Alabama against a black man in 1952.

> Rob Smith
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:
> trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
> On Behalf Of McSwain, Norman E Jr.
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 1:39 PM
> To: Trauma &amp; Critical Care mailing list
> Subject: RE: Maryland Air Ambulance Review Panel
>
> Sounds like the decisions have been made by the choices of the
> participants. BTW I was told about the  panel and then uninvited when
> they heard of my thoughts about protocols for dispatch..
>
> Norman
>
> Norman McSwain MD
> Professor, Tulane School of Medicine
> Trauma Director, Charity Hospital Trauma Center
> norman.mcswain at tulane.edu
> 504 988 5111
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
> [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Stephen Richey
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 12:27 PM
> To: Trauma &amp, Critical Care mailing list
> Subject: Re: Maryland Air Ambulance Review Panel
>
> *Pro helicopter
> **Dr. Stephen H. Thomas*, author of several research papers that support
> the
> use of helicopters to transport patients;
> *Ellen Mackenzie*, a researcher at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
> Public Health with numerous publications on the best way to use
> helicopters
> *Tom Judge*, director of a helicopter service in Bangor, Maine
> *Dr. John A. Morris*, a trauma surgeon at Vanderbilt University Medical
> Center and medical director of their Lifeflight service
> *Dr. Robert C. MacKersie*, a trauma surgeon at San Francisco General
> Hospital;  and I quote:
>
> > "*It is difficult to understand why a city the size of San Francisco
> does
> > not have any medical air transport.  The congested roads and bridges
> with
> > the surrounding water make helicopter service an essential medical
> support
> > service."*
>
>
> *Critical of Helicopters
> **Dr. Bryan E. Bledsoe*
>
> *Unsure*
> *William R. Metcalf*, a former Anne Arundel County firefighter who is
> chief
> of the North County Fire Protection District in suburban San Diego
>
>
> On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 1:12 PM, Robert Smith <rfsmithmd at comcast.net>
> wrote:
>
> > Stephen could you post the list of members again? I lost it. At the
> time I
> > thought it sounded like a very robust panel.
> >
> > Rob Smith
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:
> > trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
> > On Behalf Of Stephen Richey
> > Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 12:19 PM
> > To: Trauma &amp, Critical Care mailing list
> > Subject: Re: Maryland Air Ambulance Review Panel
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 24, 2008 at 12:12 PM, <KMATTOX at aol.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Interesting review process.     I hope and trust that  the panel was
> not
> > > overly "packed" with only one side of this  issue.
> >
> >
> > I know they include 2 or 3 persons who have openly stated their
> support of
> > helicopters in the past and have someone from an aeromedical
> operation.
> > Honestly the only person there who has been openly critical of the use
> of
> > helicopters is Dr. Bledsoe.  I fear that his concerns, advice and
> knowledge
> > will be drowned out in the name of protecting the status quo.
> >
> >
> > >     I do know that I was not consulted or even  contacted by the
> panel,
> > and
> > > that is OK.   I have had concerns about standards of inclusion as to
> just
> > > who should and should not be flown and under what circumstances.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > I do hope that all sides of  this issue are put out into the open.
> >
> >
> > Agreed.
> >
> > >    This is a real  opportunity for some real leadership.
> > >
> >
> > What is a total shame is that the original flagship of trauma care and
> > arguably one of the most organized (perhaps overly organized) state
> EMS
> > system could have used this tragedy to further improve their position
> in
> > the
> > field by embracing the appropriate changes but so far the leadership
> of
> > both
> > have done nothing but posture and try to whitewash the public by
> clouding
> > the issue with emotion and personal opinion.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Stephen L. Richey, CRT
> > Aviation Injury Research Project Leader
> > Saginaw Valley State University
> > Work E-mail: slrichey at svsu.edu
> > Home Office Phone: 248-366-4452
> >
> > "Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen."- Martin
> > Luther, before the Diet of Worms, 16. April 1521
> > --
> > trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
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> > http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
> >
> > --
> > trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
> > To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
> > http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Stephen L. Richey, CRT
> Aviation Injury Research Project Leader
> Saginaw Valley State University
> Work E-mail: slrichey at svsu.edu
> Home Office Phone: 248-366-4452
>
> "Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen."- Martin
> Luther, before the Diet of Worms, 16. April 1521
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
> http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
> http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
>
> --
> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG
> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:
> http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
>

-- 
Stephen L. Richey, CRT
Aviation Injury Research Project Leader
Saginaw Valley State University
Work E-mail: slrichey at svsu.edu
Home Office Phone: 248-366-4452

"Hier stehe ich. Ich kann nicht anders. Gott helfe mir. Amen."- Martin
Luther, before the Diet of Worms, 16. April 1521

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