med copters collide

[Anthony Caruso]

Great discussion. 
 
It's not always the ems providers that are responsible for making calls to aero medical transport.  The interfacility transports are at times inappropriate!  
Marc, correct me if i'm wrong ( and I maybe ) but a hospital in central Massachusetts that you might be familiar with calls for your service when they cannot find a paramedic level ambulance, to transport a patient in there EW to a higher level of care hospital.
As I have said before, more education is needed in assisting EMS agencies to making the right call.  To ask themselves "is a helicopter the right method of transport?"  Or "can they be safely transported by ground to a level one center?
 
Anthony M. Caruso NREMT-P> Subject: RE: med copters collide> Date: Tue, 1 Jul 2008 15:13:26 -0400> From: RestuccM at ummhc.org> To: trauma-list at trauma.org> > I totally agree with David's points. In New England, the 6 air medical> programs have formed a loose association, the North East Air Alliance> (NEAA). We pointedly do NOT compete with each other, we pro-actively> notify each other of missions turned down for weather (to minimize> "weather shopping") and meet regularly to promote safety and> cooperation. In Massachusetts we are licensed as emergency ambulances,> so we likewise are not allowed to turn down requests. We do 100% chart> review for appropriateness and good medical care and provide 100%> feedback to referring agencies and hospitals. We find that a minority> of calls are "inappropriate".> > However, I do agree with Dr. M, urban, short flight time calls are> rarely appropriate or necessary.> > Marc> > Marc C. Restuccia> Medical Director > Life Flight/MDAccess/Worcester EMS> 508-421-1468> restuccm at ummhc.org> > > -----Original Message-----> From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org> [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Summers, David> Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 2:36 PM> To: Trauma & Critical Care mailing list> Subject: RE: med copters collide> > Within our service area, most of the helicopter transport programs do> not have the ability or authority to refuse (or scene-downgrade) a> requested transport (once on-scene) due to someone's patient assessment,> re-assessment or lack of an adequate initial assessment without stepping> into a mess.> > The best approach I have found is to look at your own data specific for> the EMS ground services who actually called the request for transport.> The next step is to share that department-specific data with that agency> and offer utilization training to the department. IE: What constitutes a> trauma alert, best transport practices/utilization for the medical> patient, etc.> > The right patient, to the right facility, using the best method!> > Play Safe,> > D> > David A. Summers RN, CFRN, EMT-P> Pediatric Trauma Nurse Coordinator> St. Mary's Trauma Center> 901 45th Street> West Palm Beach, FL 33407> 561-882-6429 - Office> 561-881-0945 - Secured Fax> david.summers at tenethealth.com > > > -----Original Message-----> From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org> [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Andrew J Bowman> Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 2:11 PM> To: Trauma & Critical Care mailing list> Subject: Re: med copters collide> > So, start refusing calls. There is no law (I do not think) that says you> > have to take every flight especially if the facts presented do not> warrant air transport.> > Andrew> > > > I'm sick> > of my flight crew being called out in all kinds of weather for > > uninjured, intoxicated patients. For times when the ground crew is> about> > to go off shift and don't want to drive the hour round trip. For a dog> > > bite to the foot. And it goes on and on and on.> > --> 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/> The information transmitted is intended only for the person or> entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or> privileged material. Any review, transmission, re-transmission,> dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance> upon this information by persons or entities other than the> intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error,> please contact the sender and delete the material from any> computer.> --> trauma-list : TRAUMA.ORG> To change your settings or unsubscribe visit:> http://www.trauma.org/index.php?/community/
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