AeroMedical Considerations
By
Don Hudson, D.O.
Medical Director “LifeFlight”
Aeromedical Considerations
Aeromedical Considerations
 As of 2001, there were approximately 270
air medical transport (AMT) programs in
the U.S.
 As of 2000 in Alaska:
 9 Medevac Services
 11 Critical Care Air Ambulances
 1 Specialty Air Transport Team
Aeromedical Considerations
 Most services in the U.S. are Rotor wing.
 Most in Alaska are fixed wing.
 AMT is an integral part of EMS, especially
in Alaska.
 Crew configuration of AMT is typically
different than ground units.
Aeromedical Consideration
 Nurse/Nurse
 Paramedic/Nurse
 EMT/?
 MD/?
 Medical equipment and scope of practice is
typically advanced.
 Integration with ground transport is critical.
Aeromedical Considerations
 Often the MD for the ground transport is
not the MD for the AMT.
 Both MD’s must work well together.
Factors that Affect the Decision
to Transport
 Primary Principle- Do no further harm.
 Know indications for transfer
 Transfer agreements
 Transfer protocols
 Stabilize patient
 Transfer with skilled personnel and
adequate adjunctive equipment.
Planning Steps
 Assess Patient
 Escorts Available
 Escort level
 Required equipment
Planning Steps
 Types of Aircraft
 Landing Conditions
 Number of Patients
 Conditions of patients
Planning Steps
 Notification
 Receiving community
 Air carrier
 Family members
Planning Steps
 Pre-Transport Records
 Clinic or ambulance
 Insurance Info.
 Family contact number
A successful
Medevac starts
before the patient
gets ill.

Inventory your community
resources.
 Airfields
 Air Carriers
 Types of Aircraft
 Escort qualifications
 Medical equipment available
Rural Physician Medical
Decision to Transfer
 Decision is based on:
 Weather
 Plane availability
 Staff availability and skill level
 Type of patient (OB, Peds)
 The rural physician is taking care of the
patient without the current technological
luxuries like CT scans, etc.
Things that will injure or kill the
patient.
 Illness
 Trauma
 Too much care
 Too little care
Matching the Escort to the
Patient
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Skill Levels of:
EMT-I
EMT-II
EMT-III
Paramedic
Nurse
Critical Care Air-Ambulance
Match escort to worst pt. case scenario
You have a pt. with a possible
ruptured appendix. Who do you
use?
 EMT-I
 EMT-II
 EMT-III
 Paramedic
 Nurse
 Critical care Air-Ambulance
Matching escort to patient
 Determine the potential problems escort
could encounter should the patient
deteriorate…..
 The escort skill level and equipment should
match the WORST possible patient
problem.
Problem Solving
•Conflict Resolution- “A Walk in the Woods”
•Active listening & Active interaction
•Understanding other persons views
•Working to “move forward”
•Respect of others ideas & contributions
Critical Thinking
•Involves “thinking outside of the box”
•Consider all options
•Know you problem
•Talk to all of your resources
•Open dialogue with staff
Do Others See You As You See Yourself
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Articulate, interesting
A leader in your field
Caring & compassionate
Knowledgeable & wise
“User friendly”
Suave & debonair
Willing to share your
time freely
How do you know when the
Medevac was a success
• The crew tells you about the great flight
• The accepting Doc tells you about the great
care the patient received
• The patient received the care they needed
• The flight went as planned!!!!!!!!!!!!