RE: Dirty Laundry

["John Linko" <fllw_fan@hotmail.com>]

As the person who initially posted the article to the list, I feel it 
necessary to clarify my intentions for posting it.

For those unaware, I was employed by Life Flight in Pittsburgh for 8 years 
before moving to Colorado. During those years as a Comm Specialist I 
personally experienced incidents similar to that described in the newspaper 
article. Because my personal experiences validate the newspaper accounts to 
a large extent, I felt it appropriate to post what I felt was a rare look at 
private air medical operations in the mainstream media, with the 
understanding that we can only glean so much from a few column inches or 
30-second sound bites.

George, I don't doubt that your center does a good job in fielding requests 
for resources and allocating them as appropriately as you can, given the 
scope of your mission. What I think would help with the current problem is a 
firm commitment from ALL players in the Pittsburgh region that they will 
transport trauma patients to the closest appropriate facility or patient 
facility of choice (if a trauma center), irrespective of whose name is on 
the side of the ship. After all, that's where the REAL money is, right?  
When that part of the playing field starts to level out, we'll see how many 
helicopters are really needed there. I hope that all of the years of enmity 
can be put aside for a system-based solution. If not, government regulation 
(in a bureaucracy-heavy state like Pa.) is a real possibility.

What Rollie says about not singling out STAT for the sins of everyone is 
valid. All I know is what I saw for 8 years. Wondering why I got out? You're 
starting to see some of the reasons.

And BTW George, end of February. And let's make it the Dirty O, as long as 
it's still walking distance to STAT-Com.

John Linko
Grand Junction CO


>From: "Thomas, George" <thomas@statmedevac.com>
>Reply-To: flightmed@flightweb.com
>To: "'flightmed@flightweb.com'" <flightmed@flightweb.com>
>Subject: RE: Dirty Laundry
>Date: Tue, 4 Dec 2001 19:40:22 -0500
>
>Well said Rollie.
>
>One of my concerns is how so many folks are taking the writings of a
>newspaper as the gospel fact. How many times have you been at the scene of
>an accident, fire, etc. and then watched the evening news or read the paper
>to be surprised at the "facts" presented by the media. You were there, you
>saw the exact facts, but as is the case most times, the media bends the
>facts to some incredible untrue shape.
>
>For all you that are agreeing with the newspaper article and the Pittsburgh
>area flight staff, do you have the true facts? I don't believe that it is 
>an
>industry standard for programs to stack flights or lie about times. It
>probably does happen, but don't lump everyone into that category without 
>the
>facts. And I can state with a clear conscience that it doesn't happen here
>in my program! If you want to challenge me on that, contact me directly, 
>not
>via the flight web. We would be happy to give a tour of our Communications
>Center and how we operate. How about it Linko? When are you coming back to
>town? I can meet you at Primanti Brothers!!
>
>George Thomas
>STAT MedEvac
>412-460-3000 Ext. 229
>thomas@statmedevac.com
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Rollie Parrish [mailto:rparrish@flightweb.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 6:28 PM
>To: flightmed@flightweb.com
>Subject: Dirty Laundry
>
>
>On Tue, 4 Dec 2001, susan nittinger wrote:
>
> > Sadly enough, this has gone on for
> > years and years in the Pittsburgh area.  I can't
> > believe it took this long to surface.
>
>I've been waiting for someone else to comment on this aspect of this
>issue, but no one has yet, so I guess I will.
>
>Incidents such as those described in Pittsburgh are in no way
>unique to that community or the flight programs involved.  My guess is
>that it's rather common, especially in areas where there is high
>competition between flight programs. In fact, of the few relatively few
>programs in the Northwest, I know of or have heard of flights being held
>rather than giving them to a competing program. I've heard of programs not
>handing over patients just because the other programs didn't have the
>exact same advanced procedures and treatment protocols. I've seen ground
>agencies hold on to patients that should be flown and vice-versa, all in
>the name of "keeping the numbers up." Some people think this is wrong and
>unethical, others think it's just a way of doing business because it's
>been going on for so long.
>
>The point is that it's unfair for STAT MedEvac to be criticized for
>practices that are probably common industry-wide. Because they are a
>well known industry leader, the spotlight is shining on them and I'm sure
>that everyone is thankful their own programs aren't being targeted. Add
>some disgruntled employees or vocal individuals from competition and you
>have a fairly effective smear campaign.
>
>Because this issue was first brought to our attention via a public media
>source (link to a printed newspaper article), there's no point in trying
>to squelch the discussion on this important but very sensitive issue. The
>"milk has been spilt," so we might as well learn something from it.
>However, if a flight program has been doing something that they are
>embarrassed to have discussed publically, it should give them food for
>thought. Perhaps other flight programs doing the same things will choose
>to change their practices before the spotlight shines on them.
>
>BTW, we should avoid airing "dirty laundry" regarding specific flight
>programs or individuals. First of all, it's unprofessional and generally
>makes the poster look like a disgruntled individual. Second, it wouldn't
>take long to detract from the otherwise positive nature of the discussions
>here, as has happened in other forums. Third, remember to at least include
>your name in posts and beware of any company polices regarding these
>discussions.
>
>Later
>
>--
>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>Rollie Parrish
>FlightWeb: For Air Medical Professionals
>http://www.flightweb.com
>
>
>
>
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>
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