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Sun Mar 28 23:28:49 BST 2010

As a hypothetical for the USA:

If something like 'twin engine IFR capable' was mandated for HEMS,  
what prortion of US operations would meet that standard?

Ian

On 29/03/2010, at 4:29 AM, Mohammed al Malik <traumawon at hotmail.com>  
wrote:

>
> You are seeing the diplomatic Mattox who displays the same approach  
> of a mixture of data, practicality, insight, understanding and  
> wisdom from the podium of the Las Vegas Trauma, Critical Care, and  
> Acute Care Surgery course.     In his discussion of Dr.  
> Johannigman's air ambulance talk he was respectful and even there  
> called on us to develop standards, starting with an air ambulance  
> data base and registry.    Here in Southern California, with its  
> full freeways, mountains, deserts, and distances, we do need air  
> ambulances, but not to be used for minor conditions.  Because of the  
> helicopter crashes during the past three years,  I was getting  
> fearful that the government would create unreasonable mandates.   I  
> am hopeful that logic and effective recommendations can be made  
> using the outline of issues created by Dr. Mattox and posted here  
> for us to build on.   Let us not make it too long, but each of the  
> areas from industry and economics to data and indications for use  
> are essenti
>
> al.  I really like the part where the sending emergency rooms of a  
> region and the EMS agencies, including helicoper companies can and  
> should be part of a data driven regional quality review process.     
> Bravo, the playing field is being leveled and we all compete  
> professionally in this table top practicum.
>
>
>
> Mohammed al Malik, M.D.
>
> Los Angeles
>
>> From: KMATTOX at aol.com
>> Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2010 13:17:54 -0400
>> Subject: Re: Air Ambulannce Standards
>> To: trauma-list at trauma.org
>>
>> We are all here together to build on foundations and principles to  
>> create,
>> and not destroy. As we enter health economics reform era, it is
>> important that we use resources and personal wisely, and eliminate  
>> waste and
>> misuse. No one could have stated those principles more eloquently  
>> than you as
>> have others on this list server. There is ALWAYS a discussion table.
>> ALL stakeholders should always be at such professional tables. One  
>> of the
>> great beauties of this list server is that it is a VIRTUAL table  
>> where
>> everyone is equal and respected.
>>
>> k
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> In a message dated 3/28/2010 12:09:42 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
>> p.bjorn at tds.net writes:
>>
>> As always, your comments mean a lot to me. Thanks. I'd be honored to
>> help
>> you move toward the establishment of useful standards and  
>> practices, if
>> there's room at the table. If there's a table.
>>
>> And while I'm at it:
>>
>> I regret giving any impression that I hold "established beliefs  
>> that HEMS
>> is
>> necessary in nearly every community in the US." I assure the List,  
>> if it's
>> not already evident, that nothing could be farther from the truth.  
>> Indeed,
>> when efforts began to establish a helicopter program in Maine more  
>> than a
>> decade ago, I was invited to the planning committee -- not because  
>> I had
>> any
>> special experience or insight, but because I was one of the loudest  
>> voices
>> of opposition. And it wasn't merely a matter of 'keeping your enemies
>> closer.' Norm Dinerman felt that it'd be good for the whole program  
>> to have
>> someone along on the tours to ask the hard questions that  
>> aerophiles might
>> not think of.
>>
>> (That he would build such a role into the process speaks volumes of  
>> his
>> leadership, and of the fundamental philosophies of LifeFlight.)
>>
>> Helicopter EMS, in my view, was complex, expensive and dangerous.
>> Moreover,
>> it was obscenely overused. Too often we were tempted to skip the  
>> question
>> of whether we NEED to fly in favor of whether we CAN. Twelve years  
>> later,
>> these concerns are still valid. But in the process of trying to  
>> convince
>> my
>> colleagues not to buy a helicopter, I discovered that there are  
>> clearly
>> circumstances where HEMS can be a useful -- nay, essential --  
>> component of
>> effective critical care systems.
>>
>> The story of LifeFlight in Maine has produced scores of compelling
>> examples.
>> Many of course manifest as patients who surely would not have  
>> survived
>> without an aircraft. But to anyone paying attention, the wins  
>> extend well
>> beyond the individual.
>>
>> LifeFlight has objectively, undeniably improved the EMS culture in my
>> state.
>> There is not an agency anywhere in Maine more active with respect to
>> internal and external education, protocol development, or PI. You  
>> will not
>> find a more engaged, dedicated or selfless group of professionals  
>> anywhere.
>> And none of them are getting rich off it. The financial mission of  
>> the
>> organization (at least to the extent that it is evident to me) is to
>> survive, so as to serve.
>>
>> I'm beginning to rant. Sorry. But let's leave it that I hope you're
>> intending to FIX HEMS, not destroy it. If that's really what you're  
>> after,
>> I beg you for a seat at the meeting.
>>
>> Pret
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
>> [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
>> On Behalf Of KMATTOX at aol.com
>> Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2010 11:30 AM
>> To: trauma-list at trauma.org
>> Subject: Re: Air Ambulannce Standards
>>
>> I like Pret's critical analysis and he is right. Such input is
>> essential
>> if this community is to develop a practical and usable strawman  
>> document
>> which will be accepted by the stakeholders. I do believe that it is
>> better
>> for this to be developed by professionals such as those on this list
>> server, than the government agencies.
>>
>> k
>>
>>
>>
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