[Scan-DC] Review of Helicopter Utilization and Protocols in Maryland

[Alan Henney]

February 24, 2009 Contact: Jim Brown 410-706-3994
Beverly Sopp
State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board Releases
Final Report of the
Expert Panel Review of Helicopter Utilization and Protocols in
Maryland

The State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board that is charged with
overseeing
Maryland’s emergency medical services system has received the final
report of the panel of
National Experts that met in November to review and make
recommendations regarding the
emergency medical protocols for the use of medevac transport of trauma
patients from the scene
of an incident. The Panel, which was comprised of experts in emergency
medicine, trauma,
EMS, field triage, and use of medevac services, spent the last several
months developing the full
report. The final report, Expert Panel Review of Helicopter
Utilization and Protocols in
Maryland, was released today.

The findings and recommendations for Helicopter Emergency Medical
Services (HEMS)
contained in the final report are essentially identical to the
preliminary findings and
recommendations released in December. These include:

• Maryland is a longstanding model EMS and trauma system that
integrates all components
• Survival outcomes for trauma patients in Maryland suggest that the
trauma system
performance meets and likely exceeds the national average
• Field trauma triage protocols are consistent with national
guidelines
• Helicopter over-triage appears to exceed other areas of the country
• MSP Aviation has been recognized nationally and internationally and
should continue its
leadership role in the provision of HEMS in Maryland
• The role of the centralized MIEMSS SYSTEM COMMUNICATIONS (SYSCOM)
center is unique and a national model and should be strengthened
• Helicopter EMS is an essential component of an EMS and trauma system
that can
contribute to improved outcomes
• MSP Aviation should change licensing to come under Part 135 of the
FAA regulations
• MSP Aviation should become CAMTS accredited
• Maryland should continue helicopter utilization review
• Maryland may need fewer helicopters which will require an in-depth
multidisciplinary
analysis; and use of helicopters in certain other medical conditions
should be considered

Governor Martin O’Malley thanked the panel of national experts for
their time and
diligent work in compiling this detailed review of Maryland’s medevac
services. “This panel of
highly knowledgeable and experienced individuals has provided a broad
perspective and input in
their review of our Maryland’s helicopter use and protocols,” he said.
“The insight from this
group will help us continue the life-saving mission of the Maryland
emergency medical services
(EMS) and trauma system and to do it as safely, efficiently, and
effectively as possible.”

Donald L. DeVries, Jr., Esq., Chairperson of the Maryland EMS Board
said, “Maryland’s
EMS and trauma system has been cited as a ‘model’ for the entire
country, and the findings of
this panel will help ensure that our system continues to provide the
highest quality patient care
available.”

The members of the Expert Panel were:
o Robert C. MacKersie, M.D. (Chairperson) - Professor of Surgery in
Residence and
Director of Trauma Services, San Francisco General Hospital, San
Francisco, CA.
o John A. Morris, M.D. – Professor Surgery, Director, Division of
Trauma & Surgical
Critical Care, Director, Trauma, Burn & LifeFlight Patient Care
Center, Vanderbilt
University Medical Center, Nashville, TN.
o Ellen MacKenzie, PhD – Professor and Chair, Department of Health
Policy and
Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health ,
Baltimore, MD.
o Tom Judge, CCT-P – Executive Director, LifeFlight of Maine, Bangor,
ME; Past-
President, Association of Air Medical Services and volunteer
paramedic.
o Stephen H. Thomas, M.D., M.P.H. – Associate Professor of Surgery,
Harvard Medical
School, Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General
Hospital, Associate
Medical Director, Boston MedFlight Boston, MA.
o Bryan Bledsoe, DO – Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine,
University of Nevada
School of Medicine and University Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV.
o William R. Metcalf – Chief, North County Fire Protection District,
Fallbrook, CA.
Copies of the report are available from the MIEMSS web site:
www.miemss.org – What’s New – Maryland EMS
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