Guideline 1-100 - Air Transport of Patients

CMH EMS & MIH Protocols

Scope:

Guideline:

Air ambulances shall be used as appropriate to provide safe and exceptional patient care.

Purpose:

The purpose of this guideline is to provide guideance on utilization of air ambulances.

Procedure:

1. Upon request for air ambulance, the dispatch agency covering the jurisdiction where the landing zone will be located, shall contact Cox Air Care and advise location, destination, and patient demographics (if known).
2. If ground transport is within 45 minutes drive time from the destination at the time of aircraft request, it is potentially faster to drive by ground than request an aircraft.
3. Consider air ambulance if ONE or more of the following:
1. The patient condition or resources available warrant an aircraft as determined by the ambulance lead provider. Prior to arrival of an ambulance on scene, the current lead medical provider may request an aircraft to respond. However, final transport mode decision is made in collaboration between air and ground ambulance providers.
1. If the transport is a transfer from a hospital, refer to CMH Policy PHS01-33 - Ambulance Transfers. If an aircraft is determined to be warranted, consider requesting additional personnel and/or speciality equipment from the sending facility to accompany the transport as an alternative option, if applicable.
2. Patient conditions to evaluate includes, but not limited to, patient acuity, potential for deterioration, and/or complex medical management is required. Duration of the transport should be taken into account.
3. Resources available to evaluate includes, but not limited to, equipment and personnel available in the back of an ambulance during a ground transport.
2. Ground resources are exhausted.
3. Prolonged extrication time (greater than 20 min) is anticipated.
4. Road or bridge conditions which prevent ground transport.
5. Time Critical Diagnosis where air transport will be quicker than ground transport to TCD facility:
1. STEMI:
1. Acute MI or Chest Pain suggestive of MI.
2. Uncontrollable cardiac dysrhythmias.
3. Need for airway control intervention.
2. Stroke:
1. Sudden onset of Stroke symptoms with last seen normal less than 12 hours ago.
3. Trauma:
1. Head or Spinal Trauma with neurological deficits.
2. Second or third degree Burns greater than 20% BSA.
3. Vital signs indicating compensation in addition to the following injuries: Pulsating abdominal mass, severe bleeding, trauma during pregnancy, loss of consciousness, or penetrating injury.
4. Request for Air Ambulance should be made as early as possible. Can be made while en route.
5. Request for Air Ambulance should be made through the dispatch in the county of the LZ location.
6. Once en route, the request can only be canceled by EMS or rescue personnel on scene.
7. Prepare a safe landing zone. Utilize local law enforcement and fire department.
8. Final decision to accept a mission is the responsibility of the pilot.
9. Patient requests for specific aircraft and destinations should be discussed with flight crew.

CMH Pre-Hospital Services Mission: "Provide safe, exceptional, and compassionate care to our communities with an emphasis on highly trained and empowered staff."

CMH Mobile Integrated Healthcare Mission: "Provide exceptional, compassionate, and patient-centered care by a mobile collaborative team to improve patient experience, improve quality outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs."

Polk, Hickory, Cedar, & St Clair County EMS Protocols is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.