I enjoy the posts here on this listserve and find them very informative but from time to time some statements are made that beg response. The comments below regarding "specialty teams" not know their aircraft etc is was what got my attention. All the issues mentioned, it comes down to training provided by the transport service. At the program I am currently working at, all "team " members are given annual safety trainning and are familiarized with aircraft operations. We also take a regular flight nurse with us on the helicopter as a resource.
The literature supports specialty teams in pediatrics and neonatal verse one team fits all. No one can know everything and as it was stated it is the best interest of the patient that we must strive to meet . Following properly set guidelines for high risk maternal transports reduces the risk to the child , mother and potential litigation issues. Your course sounds very interesting and beneficial but some consider that just taking a course then makes them experts and there lies the trouble. Daily experience in any given area lends to improved clinical skills and patient care . So there is my two cents worth.
Steve Sittig
A Specialty team member
>From: STATCON@aol.com
>Reply-To: flightmed@flightweb.com
>To: flightmed@flightweb.com
>Subject: Re: High risk OB transports
>Date: Thu, 19 Jul 2001 20:04:34 EDT
>
>
>In response to the statements regarding OB training, I appreciate you stating
>the obvious. In the ideal world, maternal transports could be done by
>dedicated maternal transport teams. Trust me when I tell you that I know
>this better than anyone. You see, I developed and directed the first
>dedicated maternal transport program in the state where I lived. For many
>years I thought I wanted OB patients to only be transported by those types of
>teams. But then........reality hit..........
>
>I have been actively involved in the air medical environment for a number of
>years, and the reality is that even the biggest transport programs ended up
>pooling their resources and making "dedicated" teams cross-train. The goal is
>still to provide the patient with the best trained personnel, but it allows
>programs more flexibility in staffing (among other things).
>
>This said, my decision was to develop a training program that would give
>transport teams the best didactic information that I could in a limited time
>frame. The course I offer provides the didactic information is a classroom
>setting. It also provides each student and program with "suggested" clinical
>competency checklists. The checklist is rather extensive and includes not
>only labor and delivery knowledge, but also encompasses competencies for
>things such as transport vehicle safety.
>
>I know from experience that there are many "specialty transport teams" that
>don't know a thing about the vehicle that they are putting themselves and
>their patient in. How many "specialty team members" who do not do routine
>transports know how to locate an ELT, carry survival kits, operate the radio,
>or function as an air crew member? It requires more than "specialized "
>experience to be a proficient "specialty team member". There are even
>dedicated maternal transport programs that aren't using fetal monitoring
>enroute. How are they providing more technical care than any other
>non-specialty flight team members.
>
>Everyone has their opinion, and I hope you can see mine. Thank you for the
>opportunity to clarify my educational goals.
>
>I truly am thankful that there are MANY transport teams who want to provide
>quality care to patients. That is now.........and always will be my goal
>!!!!!!
>
>Thank you for your candid response.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Pamela J. Adams, RN / EMT-P
>President
>
>O.B. STAT, Inc.
>23 Turnberry Drive
>Arden, North Carolina 28704
>(828) 684-1708
