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Serving the public: Medevac services through Maryland State Police
Mark HuberFor the better part of a decade, my daily commute included a stretch on the 64-mile ring of paved terror around Washington, D.C., called the Capital Beltway. For those who are unfamiliar, this is a demolition derby track masquerading as a freeway. It yields a prodigious and nearly daily dose of automotive carnage. Not surprisingly, at least once a year I would be stuck in traffic at a dead stop behind a Maryland State Police (MSP) helicopter summoned to collect an unfortunate victim of this curious car culture.
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Failure to communicate: Learning lessons from Ornge
Mark HuberIn July, Ontario's coroner released the results of his long-anticipated investigation into 40 patient transport deaths between 2006 and 2012 at the Canadian province's troubled air ambulance service known as Ornge. Most of Ornge's travails have been well-publicized over the course of the last two years, and it is not my intent to rehash them here. Rather, I think it is useful to look at what the coroner said were gaps in decision-making and communications at Ornge because they are instructive in improving service in any EMS organization.
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Too fat to fly: Effect of weight on air medical transport
Mark HuberWhen is a medevac crewmember simply too fat to fly?
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EMS helicopters? Not in my backyard
Mark HuberNIMBY — the acronym means "not in my back yard." People are all for new power lines, airports, factories, windmills, oil wells and other things that benefit the public good — just not in their neighborhood. It's the height of democratic hypocrisy, and it's going on in my neighborhood right now.
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Brew on this: Latest research on coffee’s connection to Alzheimer’s
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareAs I stared into my morning cup of black coffee, trying to percolate into alertness, I received an email from a colleague alerting me to a recently published article about acetylcholinesterase inhibition. Some of the most commonly prescribed medications for Alzheimer's disease act upon the cholinergic system, inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.
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Just say no to MVFR
Mark HuberPilots by their nature are largely optimistic and dedicated to completing the mission, a trait that seems to be stronger in those who fly helicopter EMS. The reluctance to turn down a flight when a patient's life is potentially at stake, even when low clouds are moving in, and/or the temperature/dew point spread is narrowing, is understandable, even emotionally laudable. Life-savers are heroes after all. It is their job to fly into uncertain, dark skies. Wrong. By doing so they needlessly put their lives, the lives of their crew — and patients — at risk.
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King-Devick Test: An effective concussion screening for athletes?
Dr. Denise A. Valenti Medical & Allied HealthcareAn estimated 160 players suffered a head injury during regular-season play in the National Football League last season. Head injury is not unique to the American sport of football, but the concern about concussion and head injury in professional football, youth leagues, high school and college teams has caused the sport to be front and center in the controversy regarding concussion and long-term effects of such head injury.
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