Helicopter EMS- Con

[paramedicmike]

Another thing that frosts my coconut is that Flight medics and ground medics are both the same level of training, yet the flight medics have a greater scope of practice. These flight medics have the patient for a shorter duration, the ground medics often transport patients that are just as critical for longer transport times. Why can't they have the same scope as their aviating counterparts with identical training and education?

When I was still flying we may have had the same base education as ground based medics, but many of us had additional education on top of that. Also, we were allowed to work with a larger scope because we worked so much more closely with our medical command docs. We were afforded many more opportunities to train. All of our flights, every single one of them, was closely scrutinized at least four times before the medical command docs reviewed it and signed off on it. If there was a problem we got direct feedback.

That direct working relationship with our docs is what allowed us to work with an expanded scope. The bonus was that the docs were dedicated and interested in working with us. Their level of excitement and involvement for the job we did was unmatched by the feigned interested and cursory oversight received by the ground medic medical directors I've either worked for or met.

[Arctickat]

I agree Mike, but if that's the only reason, why can't the same philosophy be applied to Ground EMS? I've been working for years to develop a Regional Critical Care Ground Transport Team with the same scope as the flight medics, same oversight, same everything. It makes no sense to me that a flight medic working on a ground unit can not use his flight scope.

[paramedicmike]

Gotta get a doc on board who'd be willing to invest the time, energy and resources into training, oversight and review practices.

Easier said than done, I know.

[vamedic4]

Cons?

Helicopters not always available.

Helicopter EMS is most dangerous EMS transport.

The cost of a HEMS call is enormous to the company, the patient, and the community.