Condolences and Concerns

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First, we again are saddened that three members of the US Health  
infrastructure were killed last night in a helicopter crash, at night and going  on a 
mission during adverse weather conditions (alledgedly) which were not  
ideal..   The mission might not have required a transfer at night,  much less 
one by an air ambulance.    Our condolences are  extended to friends and 
family.     
 
My friends on this web site.   I continue to be saddened and  puzzled as to 
why this continuing loss of life has not been more throughly  investigated 
and reversed.  Last year was one of the deadliest years ever  in the air 
ambulance industry.     By my own crude and by  far incomplete analysis, most 
of these flights were under marginal flight  conditions, for missions which 
very often did not really require a transfer, or  if transport to a higher 
center was needed, it could have gone by ground  transport means, or during 
daylight or less adverse  conditions.       
 
I was sorely disappointed in the meager report earlier this year by the  
NTSB regarding air ambulance safety.   It could have and should have  
addressed many items which are well known to members of this list  server.     
 
We have a duty to continue to ask the question as to what motivates air  
ambulance transport.  Certainly it is not time.   Outcome  advantage has not 
been established.     Transplant recovery  is actually less with air 
ambulance transport than  ground.     In many helicopter systems, as many as 75% of  
the patients transported at great cost and risk, are dismissed within 24 of 
the  flight.     We also continue to see un necessary  flights in order to 
compete for business in areas with far too many duplicate  services.      
 
Just who and what organization is going to blow the whistle on this  
continuing and most often unnecessary loss of life and excessive  expense?   The 
Trauma Community - They are silent.     The industry itself - of course not.  
  The EMS community -  Nope.   Government - They had their chance and gave 
a weak and one  sided report.    The courts - I am not aware as to what has  
happened there.      
 
k 

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