Helicopter Emergency Medical Services… Not Just For Trauma Anymore

1. Helicopter Emergency Medical Services…Not Just For Trauma Anymore Deb Funk, M.D., FACEP, NREMT-P Medical Director, Life Net of NY Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Albany Medical College

2. Emergency Medical Services…not just a fast ride with lights and sirens anymore

3. Emergency Medical Technicians…not just ambulance drivers anymore

4. Today’s Reality… • The practice of medicine in many environments has changed • Financial issues • Staffing shortages • The organization of health care has changed • Consolidation of services • Creation of health care systems • Fiscal responsibility • Mission profiles of hospitals, ground based EMS and air medical services have changed • Team approach to provide health care to an individual in crisis

5. History of Air Medical Transport in the United States • 1st reported air transport of a patient in 1915 • French pilot evacuated a Serb in an unmodified fighter plane • Through progressive conflicts, airplane evacuation of injured/ill more prominent • First medical use of helicopter in 1944 in Burma • First large scale medical evacuation in Korea (Sikorsky with outboard stretchers) • UH-1H “Huey” central to medical care in Vietnam • This approach reduced mortality and came to the attention of the American public

6. Civilian Adaptation • Early 1970’s federally funded pilot projects to study feasibility • Tenuous economic viability • Need to dedicate to medical configuration • Need for integration into ground EMS systems • Civilian Law Enforcement/Fire Agencies developed aviation components • Occasionally provided medical transport • Some pursued dedicated air medical programs • Maryland State Police • LA County Fire Dept

7. Development in Civilian World • Hospital Based • Most common • Aircraft is leased from vendor or owned by hospital • First in Denver 1972 • Second Generation in early 1980’s • Increasing federal interest due to cost • Role expanded from trauma to neonatal, OB, cardiac • Third Generation in mid-1980’s • Focus on safety, and cost effectiveness

8. Current Trends in Aeromedicine • 30+ years of helicopter transport • USA - Over 200 hospital based programs • 100,000+ patients transported annually • “Brings the hospital” to the patient

9. Review of Ground EMS Development • Ground based EMS developed also as a result of wartime experiences • Multiple models of system • Private contractor • FD based • Private, for profit service • Municipal third service • Multiple levels of provider-regionally dependent • First Responders/Emergency Medical Technicians (BLS) • Intermediate/Paramedic (ALS) • Specialty Care Paramedic

10. Integration of Ground and Air EMS • Team approach • Education • Protocols • Quality Assurance

11. Indications for Air Transport • Time • Decrease time to definitive care • Decrease out of hospital time • Terrain • Overcome environmental obstacles • Overfly traffic gridlock • Talent • Delivery of highly skilled care to patients prior to/during transport

12. Air Medical Triage • >1,000,000 patients transported by helicopter since 1972 by nearly 200 programs • Roughly 30/70 split scene/interfacility • Triage of patients to receive air transport • Intend for majority of seriously ill/injured patients get appropriate transport • Assumes a certain over-triage rate

13. Practical Considerations: Method of Transport • Optimal time dictated by patient’s illness/injury • Distance, geography and traffic • Availability of definitive care at local hospitals • Carrier and personnel availability • Weather conditions • Cost

14. Considerations: Trauma • Disease of time: minutes make a difference • ACS/COT advocates that any seriously injured patient be primarily treated in a trauma center • Air medical transport based upon local factors • Interfacility transport of seriously injured patient • Use of helicopter based on time/terrain/talent

15. Considerations: Non-Trauma • Variety of medical/surgical conditions • Time/Terrain/Talent • May benefit from specialty team (OB/NICU/PICU) • Interfacility most common • Scene may be appropriate

16. Contraindications to Air Transport • Terminally ill with no correctable medical problems • Cardiac arrest without SROC • Patients likely to die enroute, if in a facility capable of resuscitation • Patients in active labor if delivery expected during transport • Patients prone to psychotic/violent behavior (without appropriate restraint)

17. Utilization Review • Prospective Screening • Difficult based on limited info and time constraints • Retrospective Review • Chart review of outcome, procedures performed,severity of illness, other subjective parameters • Follow Up • Feedback to caller • Revision of criteria as appropriate

18. Case 1 • Grandpa and Little Johnnie were involved in a high speed head on MVC 5 miles from Nowhere. • Grandpa is on coumadin and has a tender, distended abdomen. His HR is 120 • Johnnie is unconscious with an obvious skull fracture. His jaw is clenched. • 20 min drive to community hospital • 20 min flight to trauma center (60min drive)

19. Case 1 Discussion • PEDIATRIC MAJOR TRAUMA • Pulse greater than normal range for patient’s age • Systolic blood pressure below normal range • Respiratory status inadequate (central cyanosis, respiratory rate low for the child’s age, capillary refill time greater than two seconds) • Glasgow coma scale less than 14 • penetrating injuries of the trunk, head, neck, chest, abdomen or groin. • two or more proximal long bone fractures • flail chest • combined system trauma that involves two or more body systems, injuries or major blunt trauma to the chest or abdomen • spinal cord injury or limb paralysis • amputation (except digits) • Johnnie needs an airway and a pediatric neurosurgeon • Determine quickest way to airway • HEMS vs community hospital • Never wait on scene if packaged • Definitive care at peds trauma center • Consideration for automatic standby

20. Case 1 Discussion • ADULT MAJOR TRAUMA • GCS less than or equal to 13 • Respiratory Rate less than 10 or more than 29 breaths per minute • Pulse rate is less than 50 or more than 120 beats per minute • Systolic blood pressure is less than 90mmHg • Penetrating injuries to head, neck, torso or proximal extremities • Two or more suspected proximal long bone fractures • Suspected flail chest • Suspected spinal cord injury or limb paralysis • Amputation (except digits) • Suspected pelvic fracture • Open or depressed skull fracture • Grandpa needs blood products and a surgeon • Determine most appropriate facility • Know local capabilities • Stabilization vs primary transport to trauma center • Consider med control 2 patients=2 aircraft

21. Case 2 • Jake narrowly escapes from his burning apartment but suffers 60% second degree burns. • 20 min drive to community hospital • 20 min flight to trauma center • 60 min flight to burn center

22. Case 2 Discussion • CRITICAL BURNS • Greater than 20% Body Surface Area (BSA) second or third degree burns • Evidence of airway/facial burns • Circumferential extremity burns • **Note that for patients with burns and coexisting trauma, the traumatic injury should be considered the first priority and the patient should be triaged to the closest appropriate trauma center for initial stabilization. • Jake may need airway protection • Definitive care at burn center • Consideration for non burn injuries

23. Case 3 • Mrs. Brown had chest pain and ST elevation in inferior leads • 20 min drive to community hospital • 30 min flight to STEMI center (70min drive)

24. Case 3 Discussion • CRITICAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS • Suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction • Chest pain, Shortness of breath or other symptoms typical of a cardiac event • EKG findings of •                                      i.      ST elevation 1mm or more in 2 or more contiguous leads • OR •                                      ii.      LBBB (QRS duration >.12msec and Q wave in V1 or V2) • Time to reperfusion • 2004 AHA/ACC guidelines • Consideration of destination • Local protocol • Med control

25. Case 4 • Mr. George has right arm and leg weakness with slurred speech. Last normal 30min ago. • 20 min drive to community hospital • 30 min flight to Stroke Center (70min drive)

26. Case 4 Discussion • Stroke is extremely time dependent • 3hr window for IV TPA • 6hr window for IA TPA • Endovascular intervention • Most appropriate destination • Patient factors • Timing • Med control • CRITICAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS • Suspected acute stroke • Positive Cincinnati Pre-Hospital Stroke Scale • Total prehospital time (time from when the patient’s symptoms and/or signs first began to when the patient is expected to arrive at the Stroke Center) is less than two (2) hours.

27. NYS HEMS Utilization Criteria • Standard criteria described in Policy 05-05 • Who calls • When to call • When to cancel • Specific local differences acknowledged • Education tool in development

28. “Specific Local Differences” • HEMS must be integrated into current EMS and hospital system • Requires cooperative preplanning • Demands ongoing review

29. Summary • The practice of medicine evolves • Consolidation of specialty services continues • Considerations for air medical transport may be changing • Cooperative plans are imperative for a successful system

30. Questions?