WOW!
where do I start?
First of all kyfltgal, If you post an article such as the one you did, you
need to properly context it. The "officials of eastern suburbs" , "Chief
William Shaw" and "Solon Mayor Kevin Patton" where being quoted in response
to having a helicopter service that served their community, as well as the
surrounding communities, faithfully for many years, removed without much
notice and without counsel from their respective communities and services.
This aircraft, Metro Life Flight, was stationed at the Solon base 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and if you notice, in the article it is
quoted as saying that Metro Life Flight would be replaced with a helicopter
service that would "be there only three days a week". Their concerns were
only being aired in a public forum.
Second
Brian, I am sorry you and your fellow flight medics had to read this without
explanation or in its correct context. Frankly the article speaks the truth
in that a physician-nurse team DOES provide definitive care. A physician on
scene or in interhospital transfers provides immediate diagnosis and
evaluation with appropriate treatment for the critically ill or injured
patient. Their skills have been well defined through their practice in either
emergency medicine, orthopedics, anesthesia etc..
Our physicians are highly trained in advanced trauma life support and many of
our physicians have flown with us for many years and have more field
experience than some of the flight nurses. Now, with all of that said, it
does not mean that services that fly nurse-medic provide substandard care. In
fact Brian, almost 90% of all flight programs fly nurse-medic. The quote from
Mayor Kevin Patton was once again an emotional response. The communities are
well aware of the study that was done in Australia comparing physician-nurse
and nurse medic flight teams. It showed a definite difference in the care
patients received. It did not however show that care given by the nurse-medic
team was substandard at any level.
Now, I am sure that I am going to be bombarded with critical responses from
this email, and, frankly I welcome them. I would be happy to clear up any
misconceptions that the posting of the plain dealer article has had.
