Nov 24, 2008 6:15 pm US/Eastern
Panel Weighs Makeover For Medevac Program
LINTHICUM, Md. (WJZ/AP) ―
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An expert panel is meeting to weigh possible changes to Maryland's Medevac helicopter program.
An expert panel is meeting to weigh possible changes to Maryland's Medevac helicopter program.
Mike Hellgren reports the panel was formed in response to a crash in September that killed four people, including one of two car crash victims who were being flown to a hospital.
It was the eighth fatal medical helicopter crash in a 12-month period nationwide, and it led some doctors and other experts to complain that the helicopters are overused.
The panel was assembled by the state Emergency Medical Services board. It includes seven experts in various aspects of trauma and emergency medical care.
A critical issue is when are ambulances on the ground more effective than using the chopper?
"Can we still have an excellent trauma Medevac system with fewer helicopters and fewer trips given the risks and the benefits? It seems like the answer might be yes," said Delegate Dan Morhaim.
Critics say the car accident victims transported the night of the crash may have been better served by an ambulance.
One member of the review panel says the last recordings of the pilot deciding whether to fly in bad weather gave him pause.
"There were some concerning things. The pilot mentioned if Medstar the private service is flying, well, we can do it," said Dr. Bryan Bledsoe. "The system's not completely fractured, but I think it's got some cracks."
He also questions how much his panel can do in the limited time.
"You can't expect a lot for a group of people coming in for 24, 48 hours," Bledsoe said.
"Our goal is to have all patients getting the best care they can as efficiently and expeditiously as possible," Morhaim said.
State Medevac officials say they owe it to the victims to investigate what went wrong and fix it.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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