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A call for resolutions
and quality patient care, delivered in a safe environment. Programs of the future will need to possess each of these aforementioned ingredients to operate successfully. Economies of scale will be realized only by merging all of the associated costs involved in operating an aeromedical program with the number of safe transports. It is our obligation to work together to solve the issues affecting our industry. The ASHBEAMS' organization is making every effort to formulate an industry consensus solution to the challenges that we face. If the public's perception is that aeromedical operations are not safe, the number of transports will probably decline. Insurance premiums will increase, thus propagating the likelihood of some programs operating at diseconomies of scale. Many programs cannot tolerate this type of existence and will be forced to cease operations. This scenario has already occurred in numerous locations around the nation. The "bottom line" sacrifice is that a c o m m u n i t y that was once served by an aeromedical program has now lost this service. We k n o w that our industry impacts patient outcome in a positive way. We also k n o w that it is a very expensive service which involves inherent risks. The ultimate challenge continues to be minimizing those risks and costs to enable a safe service to be provided for the public. Communicating is a major challenge. Every day we are faced with the o p p o r t u n i t y to express our opinions. The key to successful communications is a clear message and an attentive listener. I believe that the aeromedical c o m m u n i t y has an audience. I also believe that the entire industry is communicating the same m e s s a g e . . , that we must provide cost effective, quality patient care in a safe environment. We need to assist our industry by s u p p o r t i n g the "Priority One" program. We need to work together to overcome the issues that face us. Jim Smith, ASHBEAMS' president persists in his endeavors to assure that this program will be implemented. The facts are overwhelmingly clear, something must be done to critique our industry. The aeromedical industry must take a retrospective and prospective look at i t s e l f - Today!
ASHBEAMS
A Call for Resolutions he arrival spring brings to ~ many of us ...... feelings of renewal .... and reaffirmation o f our goals and I ~ directions. In the past weeks, we Jim Smith, President have had the o p p o r t u n i t y to move forward on several fronts. The National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA) recently held their Safety Conference and Organizational Meeting. Last January, I wrote to Don Wright and Tom Einhorn, reaffirming ASHBEAMS and my personal support to their efforts and activities. They chose not to share my communication with their membership and my absence at their organizational meeting was misunderstood by many. My position and actions during the ASHBEAMS Conference last October were misinterpreted to the extent that
....
T
of
"The more time NEMSPA/ASHBEAMS can spend in dialogue a n d debate together, the better our opportunities to understand a n d solve our m u t u a l concerns will be."
Wright and Einhorn refused to meet with the pilots in attendance either in my presence, or w h e n I reiterated my support and left the room. My absence from their organizational meeting was neither an oversight nor an affront. I sincerely felt it better to encourage their organization without my presence and renew my efforts at communication and collaboration after their board and organizational processes were in place.
Since then, I met with Wright and Einhorn in Dallas at the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Conference, and discussed our opportunities to improve communication. I am most pleased to report that Michael Burke, newly elected Chairman of the NEMSPA Board of Directors met with our ASHBEAMS Board in Indianapolis in early April. We worked diligently through several important and difficult issues, including recent "60 minutes" and "20/20" programs (Editor's note: please see "Opinion" on page 30). I want to publicly thank Mr. Burke for coming to our meeting. I am greatly encouraged by our discussions and can report that we agreed to maintain direct communication, including the scheduling of a monthly telephone conference for the leadership of NFNA, NFPA, NEMSPA, and ASHBEAMS. I am looking forward to a renewed commitment for all of us in the spring of '87. The EMS Safety Conference at HAI in Dallas was an outstanding effort. The several thousand participants literally represented every constituency involved in aeromedical activities. I strongly feel that the more time we can spend in dialogue and debate together, the better our opportunities to understand and solve our mutual concerns will be. On behalf of ASHBEAMS, I salute all the participants for their efforts. ASHBEAMS' "Priority One" program is back on track and our checklists/process and teams are being finalized. We will field test the program next month, and hold our team training and kick-off session in conjunction with the ASHBEAMS meetings in Denver this July. I believe that we are moving forward on our most pressing issues. I once again call on all of our constituencies to join together to find solutions to assure that the essential services to our communities can be continued in a safe and responsible process, l
Cynthia N. Hensleigh, RN, President o f NFNA, is the Chief Flight Nurse f o r University MedEvac a t Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dave Samuels, President o f NFPA, is a Flight Paramedic f o r Samaritan Air Evac in Phoenix, Arizona. Jim Smith, President o f ASHBEAMS, is the Executive Vice President o f Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
AMJ MAY/JUNE1987 5
ASHBEAMS
A Call for Resolutions he arrival spring brings to ~ many of us ...... feelings of renewal .... and reaffirmation o f our goals and I ~ directions. In the past weeks, we Jim Smith, President have had the o p p o r t u n i t y to move forward on several fronts. The National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA) recently held their Safety Conference and Organizational Meeting. Last January, I wrote to Don Wright and Tom Einhorn, reaffirming ASHBEAMS and my personal support to their efforts and activities. They chose not to share my communication with their membership and my absence at their organizational meeting was misunderstood by many. My position and actions during the ASHBEAMS Conference last October were misinterpreted to the extent that
....
T
of
"The more time NEMSPA/ASHBEAMS can spend in dialogue a n d debate together, the better our opportunities to understand a n d solve our m u t u a l concerns will be."
Wright and Einhorn refused to meet with the pilots in attendance either in my presence, or w h e n I reiterated my support and left the room. My absence from their organizational meeting was neither an oversight nor an affront. I sincerely felt it better to encourage their organization without my presence and renew my efforts at communication and collaboration after their board and organizational processes were in place.
Since then, I met with Wright and Einhorn in Dallas at the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Conference, and discussed our opportunities to improve communication. I am most pleased to report that Michael Burke, newly elected Chairman of the NEMSPA Board of Directors met with our ASHBEAMS Board in Indianapolis in early April. We worked diligently through several important and difficult issues, including recent "60 minutes" and "20/20" programs (Editor's note: please see "Opinion" on page 30). I want to publicly thank Mr. Burke for coming to our meeting. I am greatly encouraged by our discussions and can report that we agreed to maintain direct communication, including the scheduling of a monthly telephone conference for the leadership of NFNA, NFPA, NEMSPA, and ASHBEAMS. I am looking forward to a renewed commitment for all of us in the spring of '87. The EMS Safety Conference at HAI in Dallas was an outstanding effort. The several thousand participants literally represented every constituency involved in aeromedical activities. I strongly feel that the more time we can spend in dialogue and debate together, the better our opportunities to understand and solve our mutual concerns will be. On behalf of ASHBEAMS, I salute all the participants for their efforts. ASHBEAMS' "Priority One" program is back on track and our checklists/process and teams are being finalized. We will field test the program next month, and hold our team training and kick-off session in conjunction with the ASHBEAMS meetings in Denver this July. I believe that we are moving forward on our most pressing issues. I once again call on all of our constituencies to join together to find solutions to assure that the essential services to our communities can be continued in a safe and responsible process, l
Cynthia N. Hensleigh, RN, President o f NFNA, is the Chief Flight Nurse f o r University MedEvac a t Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dave Samuels, President o f NFPA, is a Flight Paramedic f o r Samaritan Air Evac in Phoenix, Arizona. Jim Smith, President o f ASHBEAMS, is the Executive Vice President o f Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
AMJ MAY/JUNE1987 5