Re: CAMTS accreditations

[mee <mikey49@concentric.net>]

I appologize for forgetting to sign my responce the computer signed it "mee"

Mike Earnheart, R.N.
mikey49@concentric.net

mee wrote:

> About a year ago I helped get a fixed wing program I worked for, CAMTS 
> certified. During this process we went to several Air medical 
> conferences. Many opportunities were said to be available to us once 
> we were certified. Unfortunately a change in ownership occurred and 
> the certification was not included in the change. So I cannot say 
> whether these doors would have actually opened for us.
> That having been said I would like to ask, who do you serve, your 
> accountant or your patients? Why does the US have air medical crash 
> rates (rotor) above 13 per 100,000 hrs flown? (not even close to the 
> rate in Europe or Canada).
>
>    While I was involved in the CAMTS process I realized safety 
> preparedness was the thrust of  most of the regulations.  Recurring 
> education and training cost money. Being sure every thing you use has 
> a back up supply and a plan costs money.  It also requires commitment 
> on the part of pilots, medical crew and most of all management.
>
>    These are a few of the changes we made a result of CAMTS preparation.
>
>    I have a 100% backup supply of oxygen on board that is completely 
> separate from the primary system. The Ohemeda outlet could fail and 
> dump the entire volume of my "m" cylinder half way back from Hawaii 
> and My patient would still be safe.
>
>    The medical crew I fly with know how hard you must pull to remove 
> the emergency escape window or the raft release tether to get them to 
> function.
>
>    The medical crew know how to shut off fuel flow to the engines. How 
> to turn off the main battery switches. How to activate the engine fire 
> extinguishers. I know rhe med crews are not pilots but if the pilot is 
> disabled these could be valuable skills.
>
>    We added a fire extinguisher that is clearly visible to the medical 
> crew in the cabin and easily reached.
>
>    With our vented patients we carry adapters for most common "oxygen" 
> and "air" wall outlets along with ETCO2 monitor (reads in mm Hg) . We 
> obtain a blood gas prior to transport to verify the effect of vent 
> settings on the patient  and to have a baseline pCO2 comparison to ETCO2.
>
> This list could go on for several pages and I know we cannot operate 
> at a financial loss. But ask your self and your company, What did you 
> do for safety today? This week?
>
> CAMTS certification will help you find the areas where your program 
> can improve safety for your patient and your crew.
>
> Stogsdill, Dave wrote:
>
> > Looking for opinions about the value of CAMTS accreditations ? Our 
> > program is divided over the value of becoming CAMTS accredited. We 
> > were in the accredition process several years ago, but after much 
> > thought and meetings, we decided not to follow through. Hopefully 
> > there is a lot of opinions out
> > there, both pro and con, that will help us have a better 
> > understanding. Especially interested in programs that are currently 
> > accredited. Those that decided against it, and those that may have 
> > been accredited, but then did not reapply or let there accreditation 
> > lapse.(Why?)
> >
> >
> > Thanks !!!
> >
> > David Stogsdill
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> >  
>
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