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I am curious if there are any rotor programs dispatched via a central state-wide dispatching center and if so, is it efficient?
- From: Jsscharm@aol.com
- Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2002 02:21:04 EDT
There are several flight programs scattered throughout the state where I live and each program has their own dispatch center. A couple of these programs engage in fierce competition. There are times when a ground ambulance (which is affiliated with one program) will call for a specific air ambulance to respond to a scene, even though that helicopter is 35 - 40 minutes away and flies over another helicopter which is 8 minutes away from the scene. I am concerned that this competition and strong affiliation ties is adversely affecting patient care. I find it unethical to make a patient "wait" for air transport because an ambulance (or hospital) either chooses or is told to use a specific rotor program that may not be even remotely close to the scene.
I am wondering if a state-wide dispatch center would be in the patient's best interest. A customer (ambulance/hospital) would call one number and that dispatcher would dispatch the closest available helicopter that would meet the customer's needs. That way the politics would be removed and the patient would not have to wait.
...would like to hear from any programs that have experienced similar problems....
J.S., flight nurse