Medical Helicopter Requirements?

[FireMedic65]

It's not really a dumb question... just, retarded.

[JPINFV]

It's not really a dumb question... just, retarded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aH6B1tXgYkQ

[Chief1C]

What?

[VentMedic]

If the OP intended this to be a joke, his timing sucks. While the questions are somewhat...distant, I will provide some information on the topic. We might just have a genuine dreamer here or someone who has a friend with a helicopter he wants to put to good use. Of course if one did have a helicopter, he probably would already know where to look for some of the answers. If nothing else, some of the links might provide some reading for those who have an interest in Air Medical Transport.

Here are the CAMTS guidelines which includes references to communication equipment or at least where to look with the FAA.

http://data.memberclicks.com/site/nemsp/AccreditationStandards_-_7th_Edition_2006_1_.pdf

Recent ammendments to the guidelines can be found here:

http://www.nemspa.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=91563&orgId=nemsp'>http://www.nemspa.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=91563&orgId=nemsp

CAMTS website

http://www.camts.org/

NEMSPA (you will also find the NTSB recommendations on this site)

http://www.nemspa.org/

READ all safety recommendations. In case you haven't noticed there have been several medical helicopter crashes resulting in the death of providers and patients.

Of course the helicopter, licensing, insurance, crew and equipment are just a few issues. You will also have to petition your local government agencies for landing zone permits at the hospital or where you decide to land the helicopter. You may have to apply for a specific certificate of need for this type of service in your area. You will have to work out billing and taxation issues for IFT/scene response. You will have to get a cert for IFT and if you do scene response you will need one for that as well. You will have to petition for funding to maintain a LZ at your hospital. This may have to be done with the board of the hosptal, the local government officials and if any tax dollars are used from the area residents, a special election may need to be held for approval. This may also apply to have the tax payers pick up the costs of transporting the uninsured.

One more serious note, make sure all of the employees flying get a copy of this:

http://www.flightweb.com/filemgmt/datafiles/EMS_preparedness_guide_v3.pdf

Of course the information is of value to ground EMS as well.

Edited March 29, 2010 by VentMedic

[brentoli]

I don't even know if $30 million in capital would handle your start up. Theres a good reason that most medical helicopter services are either branches of a larger transportation group (i.e. PHI Air Med) or a division of a hospital.

Do you really need Air Med in your area? Do you have documented problems with it? Here is my suggestion to you.

• Go back 5 years and find documentation showing a need for Air Med
  
• Get all the other jurisdictions in your area to do the same
  
• Schedule meetings with the service rep for all of the Air Med companies that service NY
  
• Show them the documentation you have in an easy to understand no-nonsense manner. These people don't want to waste their time with hill-jacks saying "Heliocopters are cool, man!"
  
• Sit back and see what happens.
  

[mobey]

retarded.

Side note: That word is really falling out of favor in a big way, it is offensive to those with disabilities and the ones who care about them. I realize it is still pretty widely used (especially outside Canada) but being in healthcare I just wanted to note it.

[FireMedic65]

sorry to offend you

Edited March 29, 2010 by FireMedic65

[Doctor_Phil]

Side note: That word is really falling out of favor in a big way, it is offensive to those with disabilities and the ones who care about them. I realize it is still pretty widely used (especially outside Canada) but being in healthcare I just wanted to note it.

I'll make an agreement with you. I'll push for people to stop using the "R" word.. When black people stop thinking it's not okay for white people to use the "N" word, but it's still okay for them to use the "N" word. eg.. Nobody can use either one, in any context, music, print, film, etc. Both, will be forever censored.

[mobey]

I'll make an agreement with you. I'll push for people to stop using the "R" word.. When black people stop thinking it's not okay for white people to use the "N" word, but it's still okay for them to use the "N" word. eg.. Nobody can use either one, in any context, music, print, film, etc. Both, will be forever censored.

I'll just take the high road, and not use either

Edited March 29, 2010 by mobey

[spenac]

Wow there have really gotten to be a lot of jerks on here. Dart is asking some questions, why not answer those asked and then politely give him some ideas to help his chances of success. With the responses given here it is no wonder this site is quickly losing its reputation as a quality place to hang out and discuss EMS and real life.

Dart I apologize for the asinine comments you have received and I hope you the best in your quest. I am sorry I have no knowledge of flight so have no way to help.