Our vision is to help our customers optimize capacity and enhance capability of their Air Ambulance Service, a philosophy that is driven by linking latest evidence with best clinical practice through a step-by-step approach.
Countries around the world are seeking to establish and develop indigenous air ambulance services. European and American air ambulance providers have traditionally dominated service provision and now countries in Africa, the Middle East and Far East are seeking to establish retrieval capability.
Prehospital and retrieval medicine is a dynamic and maturing discipline. However, the over-arching goal in any such service is to retain the same degree of clinical governance, excellence in patient management, and robust patient safety mechanisms as would be expected at any in-patient hospital based clinical service. Accordingly the implicit risks of transporting critically ill or injured patients by air must be mitigated by ensuring healthcare providers receive the highest possible level of clinical training, are appropriately equipped, and guided by evidence-based standard operating procedures/guidelines.
Ireland was one of the last countries in Europe to have a dedicated 24/7/365 fixed wing air ambulance service staffed by a critical care team. The air ambulance in Ireland was developed to provide a fully functioning aeromedical retrieval service. The Company gained approval from leading global Assistance Companies meeting their exacting standards.
AeroMedevac in Ireland in commissioning their aeromedical retrieval service, undertook the following:
- Establishing an appropriate Medical Governance Structure
- Staff recruitment, training and bespoke air ambulance HR systems
- Sourcing of aviation approved mobile medical equipment including Lifeport
- Development of aviation and medical operations systems
- Sourcing of appropriate insurances, both medical and aviation
- Commissioning of Clinical Operating Procedures
- Commissioning of Logistical Operating Systems
- Aeromedical Training (BLS, ACLS, START Fixed Wing, START Rotary)
- Aircraft procurement
- AOC management and operations
- Commercial quotation systems
- Online E-Learning training modules using simulation
The experience and learning gained over 4 years has being collated whereby it is readily accessible and available to assist organisations around the world with similar challenges.
AeroMedevac International is delighted to be able to offer the above capabilities to organisations wishing to develop indigenous services. For more information, please complete and submit the attached inquiry form.
AeroMedevac Commissioning Inquiry form
The transport of patients by air presents medical escorts with many challenges unique to this mode of travel. Staff engaged in aeromedical transport must have both a high level of expertise, specialist knowledge, skills, and practical training.
Given thousands of citizens leave their native country each year, sadly many become ill and injured whilst overseas. When circumstances dictate, it requires a very special team to ensure the safe and timely aeromedical repatriation of that patient to their home country, or to a specialist center of excellence elsewhere for appropriate treatment.
To support aeromedical retrieval teams, we have developed a suite of aeromedical transportation Policies and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
These SOPs have been authored by:
- doctors working in a medical support context
- doctors working in emergency centres
- and/or in the field of transporting patients by air.
The objective of these SOPs is to provide Guidelines that can be used by doctors, nurses and paramedics who organise and execute the incidental transportation of patients by air.
The basis for these Guidelines is mainly to be found in combining
- the knowledge of air travel physiology
- with the general pathophysiological aspects of illnesses
- then reasoning what effects air transport will have on the patient
For ease of use, the Policies and Guidelines are segmented into
a) Clinical
b) Logistical
c) Medical Support
d) Nurse only escorted retrieval
For example in the Clinical section, we have chosen to classify the guidelines of only the most relevant illnesses such as:
- Transport after acute Myocardial infarction
- Transport after subarachnoid Haemorrhage
- Transport after Spinal Injury
However, for Nurse Only missions, the indications and requirements application protocols are focused on practical situations.
The Logistical section offers Guidelines that address:
- Facilitation of transfer of care
- Handover communications
- Wing to wing transfers
- Securing patient in aircraft
- Carriage of travelling companions, two-patient transfers and so forth.
The objective is to ensure that high professional standards apply throughout an organisations medical escort service and therefore it is important to know how to address medical problems, which may occur during an aeromedical transfer flight. By establishing uniformity of standards, guidelines and protocols, the quality of international medical transport will be supported.
Ongoing Training and skills retention:
AeroMedevac implements Medihow online training delivered through simulation. This is a technique for practice and learning that can be applied to many different disciplines across healthcare. The benefit of online simulation is that it amplifies real life experience while maintaining competency and emphasizing patient safety.