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A look ahead
PRESIDENT'S REPORT ASHBEAMS
A Look Ahead
T
he 1987 Aeromedical
ference is f r e s h in m y m i n d , so I will reflect on Jim Smith, President t h a t e v e n t as well as look a h e a d into 1988. O u r e i g h t h a n n u a l g a t h e r i n g was once again the largest yet with just u n d e r 2,000 p a r t i c i p a n t s . The diligence of our hosts, F l i g h t for Life a t t h e M i l w a u k e e R e g i o n a l Medical Center, our staff a n d c o m m i t t e e s p a i d off in a s m o r g a s b o r d of scientific a n d e d u c a t i o n a l sessions a n d e x h i b i t o r s u p p o r t of u n p r e c e d e n t e d scope a n d quality. M y s i n c e r e t h a n k s to all who c o n t r i b u t e d a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h i s conference. I was v e r y p l e a s e d to see t h e h i g h level of i n t e r e s t a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n of pilots t h i s year. A S H B E A M S developed a n d p r e s e n t e d its first d e s i g n a t e d pilot's t r a c k a n d we h a d more t h a n 150 p a r t i c i p a n t s , a l m o s t t h r e e t i m e s t h e n u m b e r of pilots in a t t e n d a n c e l a s t year. We also reactivated the leadership and a t t e n t i o n to t h e c o m m u n i c a t o r s w i t h i n our p r o g r a m s a n d organization. S a m M a r t i n , of H e r s h e y M e d i c a l Center's Life Lion prog r a m , h a s t a k e n t h e r e i n s of our Communications Committee and set f o r t h 'an a g g r e s s i v e p l a n for 1988. I u r g e all of you to s u p p o r t a n d p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e p r o g r e s s of this essential constituency. I would be r e m i s s i f I did not a c k n o w l e d g e t h e l o n g - t e r m contrib u t i o n s of two A S H B E A M S ' b o a r d m e m b e r s who " r e t i r e d " w h i l e at t h e M i l w a u k e e conference. Ed Holmes, now of The U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a , a n d Don S t a m p e r of The U n i v e r s i t y of M i s s o u r i concluded t h e i r t e r m s as E a s t e r n a n d C e n t r a l R e g i o n a l Directors, r e s p e c t i v e l y . Jim Smith, President of ASHBEAMS, is the Executive Vice President of Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvanic~
O u r h e a r t f e l t t h a n k s to t h e s e two i n d i v i d u a l s who h a v e s e r v e d w i t h t h o u g h t f u l diligence a n d commitment. The new y e a r b r i n g s p r o m i s e of c o n t i n u i n g as well as new efforts in our g r o w i n g i n d u s t r y . We m u s t cont i n u e our a t t e n t i o n to safety. O u r focus o.n m a t u r i t y in j u d g m e n t a n d d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g , coupled w i t h a v o i d a n c e of i n a p p r o p r i a t e press u r e s from w i t h i n our o p e r a t i o n s or t h r o u g h e x t e r n a l competition, is p a y i n g d i v i d e n d s t h i s year. I b e l i e v e we h a v e t u r n e d t h e corner, b u t we c a n n o t d i m i n i s h our q u e s t for o p t i m a l safety. C o n t i n u e d a t t e n t i o n to our various c o n s t i t u e n c i e s r e m a i n s a priority. O u r m a t u r i n g i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h t h e a v i a t i o n professionals a s s o c i a t e d w i t h our p r o g r a m s a r e gratifying. Our organizational c h a n g e s in 1986, r e a c h i n g out to t h e fixed-wing services, h a v e b r o u g h t new v i s i b i l i t y to t h i s area. We m u s t c o n t i n u e our efforts to i n t e g r a t e t h i s increasing and essential c o n s t i t u e n c y in a i r m e d i c a l services. We a r e d e v e l o p i n g opport u n i t i e s to exercise a m o r e p r o a c t i v e p o s i t i o n in r e g i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l issues. We a r e also establ i s h i n g i m p r o v e d a v e n u e s of communication, emphasizing the role of y o u r n e w l y elected r e g i o n a l representatives, your executive officers a n d A S H B E A M S staff. We look f o r w a r d to c o n t i n u e d g r o w t h a n d quality, w i t h a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l flavor in Boston in 1988.
NFPA
Research ~i~i~!¸
i~i!!i!iii!ii
esearch in t h e aeromedical i n d u s t r y is limited. As project director for t h e Samaritan AIREVAC/ Dave Samuels President ASHBEAMS DOT c u r r i c u l u m d e v e l o p m e n t g r a n t , it h a s become a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e r e is a n o p p o r t u n i t y for a v a s t
R
Dave Samuels, President of NFPA, is a Flight Paramedic for Samaritan Air Evac in Phoenix, Arizona.
a m o u n t of r e s e a r c h to be accomplished. As t h e topics for t h e c u r r i c u l u m were decided upon a n d a u t h o r s we solicited, it b e c a m e even more c l e a r t h a t our i n d u s t r y is in need of f a c t u a l data. This d a t a can be u t i l i z e d in n u m e r o u s ways. Drs. W i l l i a m B a x t a n d H e n r y Bock h a v e b e e n a d v o c a t i n g t h e m e r i t s of r e s e a r c h in t h e aerom e d i c a l i n d u s t r y for y e a r s . It is indeed p r o g r e s s to h a v e a n e w l y dedicated Aeromedical Research Foundation. Drs. F r a n k T h o m a s a n d K e n Rhee, w i t h t h e help of others, h a v e s t r i v e d for t h i s concept for some t i m e a n d can now r e a l i z e t h i s goal. R e s e a r c h is not a n e a s y process and can be expensive. The p h i l o s o p h y of t h e A e r o m e d i c a l R e s e a r c h F o u n d a t i o n is to a s s i s t i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d fund as m a n y qualified r e s e a r c h projects as is economically feasible. R e s e a r c h can be defined as "a careful or s y s t e m a t i c h u n t i n g for facts or t r u t h about a subject; i n q u i r y ; or i n v e s t i g a t i o n : organized scientific i n v e s t i g a t i o n to solve problems, t e s t hypotheses, develop or i n v e n t new products." R e s e a r c h for our i n d u s t r y is needed in a r e a s such as p a t i e n t care techniques, e q u i p m e n t , p a t i e n t care outcome, safety, etc. The a e r o m e d i c a l indust r y m u s t b a s e decisions on f a c t u a l data. The f a c t u a l d a t a component becomes obvious w h e n d e b a t i n g such issues as how m a n y pilots s h o u l d be d e d i c a t e d to one aircraft, w h e t h e r pilots be i n s t r u m e n t current, or w h e t h e r 12-hour shifts s h o u l d be m a n d a t e d for pilots. C a n we, as a r e s p o n s i b l e industry, m a k e t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s w i t h o u t facts? Do we k n o w t h a t t h e s e s u g g e s t e d g u i d e l i n e s will reduce t h e n u m b e r of i n c i d e n t s a n d accidents, or is t h i s m e r e l y speculation? This philosop h y holds t r u e for e v e r y facet of our industry. We m u s t s u b s t a n t i a t e a n d l e g i t i m i z e our m e t h o d s t h r o u g h r e s e a r c h . I f we, as a n industry, discover by our r e s e a r c h t h a t we m u s t c h a n g e t h e w a y we are doing somet h i n g b a s e d on solid f a c t u a l data, t h e n t h e c h a n g e is necessary. The A e r o m e d i c a l R e s e a r c h Found a t i o n will a s s i s t us w i t h f u n d i n g a n d guidance. E a c h p r o g r a m h a s a u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y to s t u d y some aspect of a e r o m e d i c a l care, operations or safety. The e n t i r e i n d u s t r y can l e a r n from each o t h e r b u t we
AM$
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER1987 5
A Look Ahead
T
he 1987 Aeromedical
ference is f r e s h in m y m i n d , so I will reflect on Jim Smith, President t h a t e v e n t as well as look a h e a d into 1988. O u r e i g h t h a n n u a l g a t h e r i n g was once again the largest yet with just u n d e r 2,000 p a r t i c i p a n t s . The diligence of our hosts, F l i g h t for Life a t t h e M i l w a u k e e R e g i o n a l Medical Center, our staff a n d c o m m i t t e e s p a i d off in a s m o r g a s b o r d of scientific a n d e d u c a t i o n a l sessions a n d e x h i b i t o r s u p p o r t of u n p r e c e d e n t e d scope a n d quality. M y s i n c e r e t h a n k s to all who c o n t r i b u t e d a n d p a r t i c i p a t e d in t h i s conference. I was v e r y p l e a s e d to see t h e h i g h level of i n t e r e s t a n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n of pilots t h i s year. A S H B E A M S developed a n d p r e s e n t e d its first d e s i g n a t e d pilot's t r a c k a n d we h a d more t h a n 150 p a r t i c i p a n t s , a l m o s t t h r e e t i m e s t h e n u m b e r of pilots in a t t e n d a n c e l a s t year. We also reactivated the leadership and a t t e n t i o n to t h e c o m m u n i c a t o r s w i t h i n our p r o g r a m s a n d organization. S a m M a r t i n , of H e r s h e y M e d i c a l Center's Life Lion prog r a m , h a s t a k e n t h e r e i n s of our Communications Committee and set f o r t h 'an a g g r e s s i v e p l a n for 1988. I u r g e all of you to s u p p o r t a n d p a r t i c i p a t e in t h e p r o g r e s s of this essential constituency. I would be r e m i s s i f I did not a c k n o w l e d g e t h e l o n g - t e r m contrib u t i o n s of two A S H B E A M S ' b o a r d m e m b e r s who " r e t i r e d " w h i l e at t h e M i l w a u k e e conference. Ed Holmes, now of The U n i v e r s i t y of P e n n s y l v a n i a , a n d Don S t a m p e r of The U n i v e r s i t y of M i s s o u r i concluded t h e i r t e r m s as E a s t e r n a n d C e n t r a l R e g i o n a l Directors, r e s p e c t i v e l y . Jim Smith, President of ASHBEAMS, is the Executive Vice President of Divine Providence Hospital in Williamsport, Pennsylvanic~
O u r h e a r t f e l t t h a n k s to t h e s e two i n d i v i d u a l s who h a v e s e r v e d w i t h t h o u g h t f u l diligence a n d commitment. The new y e a r b r i n g s p r o m i s e of c o n t i n u i n g as well as new efforts in our g r o w i n g i n d u s t r y . We m u s t cont i n u e our a t t e n t i o n to safety. O u r focus o.n m a t u r i t y in j u d g m e n t a n d d e c i s i o n - m a k i n g , coupled w i t h a v o i d a n c e of i n a p p r o p r i a t e press u r e s from w i t h i n our o p e r a t i o n s or t h r o u g h e x t e r n a l competition, is p a y i n g d i v i d e n d s t h i s year. I b e l i e v e we h a v e t u r n e d t h e corner, b u t we c a n n o t d i m i n i s h our q u e s t for o p t i m a l safety. C o n t i n u e d a t t e n t i o n to our various c o n s t i t u e n c i e s r e m a i n s a priority. O u r m a t u r i n g i n t e r a c t i o n s w i t h t h e a v i a t i o n professionals a s s o c i a t e d w i t h our p r o g r a m s a r e gratifying. Our organizational c h a n g e s in 1986, r e a c h i n g out to t h e fixed-wing services, h a v e b r o u g h t new v i s i b i l i t y to t h i s area. We m u s t c o n t i n u e our efforts to i n t e g r a t e t h i s increasing and essential c o n s t i t u e n c y in a i r m e d i c a l services. We a r e d e v e l o p i n g opport u n i t i e s to exercise a m o r e p r o a c t i v e p o s i t i o n in r e g i o n a l a n d n a t i o n a l issues. We a r e also establ i s h i n g i m p r o v e d a v e n u e s of communication, emphasizing the role of y o u r n e w l y elected r e g i o n a l representatives, your executive officers a n d A S H B E A M S staff. We look f o r w a r d to c o n t i n u e d g r o w t h a n d quality, w i t h a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l flavor in Boston in 1988.
NFPA
Research ~i~i~!¸
i~i!!i!iii!ii
esearch in t h e aeromedical i n d u s t r y is limited. As project director for t h e Samaritan AIREVAC/ Dave Samuels President ASHBEAMS DOT c u r r i c u l u m d e v e l o p m e n t g r a n t , it h a s become a p p a r e n t t h a t t h e r e is a n o p p o r t u n i t y for a v a s t
R
Dave Samuels, President of NFPA, is a Flight Paramedic for Samaritan Air Evac in Phoenix, Arizona.
a m o u n t of r e s e a r c h to be accomplished. As t h e topics for t h e c u r r i c u l u m were decided upon a n d a u t h o r s we solicited, it b e c a m e even more c l e a r t h a t our i n d u s t r y is in need of f a c t u a l data. This d a t a can be u t i l i z e d in n u m e r o u s ways. Drs. W i l l i a m B a x t a n d H e n r y Bock h a v e b e e n a d v o c a t i n g t h e m e r i t s of r e s e a r c h in t h e aerom e d i c a l i n d u s t r y for y e a r s . It is indeed p r o g r e s s to h a v e a n e w l y dedicated Aeromedical Research Foundation. Drs. F r a n k T h o m a s a n d K e n Rhee, w i t h t h e help of others, h a v e s t r i v e d for t h i s concept for some t i m e a n d can now r e a l i z e t h i s goal. R e s e a r c h is not a n e a s y process and can be expensive. The p h i l o s o p h y of t h e A e r o m e d i c a l R e s e a r c h F o u n d a t i o n is to a s s i s t i n t e r e s t e d p a r t i c i p a n t s a n d fund as m a n y qualified r e s e a r c h projects as is economically feasible. R e s e a r c h can be defined as "a careful or s y s t e m a t i c h u n t i n g for facts or t r u t h about a subject; i n q u i r y ; or i n v e s t i g a t i o n : organized scientific i n v e s t i g a t i o n to solve problems, t e s t hypotheses, develop or i n v e n t new products." R e s e a r c h for our i n d u s t r y is needed in a r e a s such as p a t i e n t care techniques, e q u i p m e n t , p a t i e n t care outcome, safety, etc. The a e r o m e d i c a l indust r y m u s t b a s e decisions on f a c t u a l data. The f a c t u a l d a t a component becomes obvious w h e n d e b a t i n g such issues as how m a n y pilots s h o u l d be d e d i c a t e d to one aircraft, w h e t h e r pilots be i n s t r u m e n t current, or w h e t h e r 12-hour shifts s h o u l d be m a n d a t e d for pilots. C a n we, as a r e s p o n s i b l e industry, m a k e t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s w i t h o u t facts? Do we k n o w t h a t t h e s e s u g g e s t e d g u i d e l i n e s will reduce t h e n u m b e r of i n c i d e n t s a n d accidents, or is t h i s m e r e l y speculation? This philosop h y holds t r u e for e v e r y facet of our industry. We m u s t s u b s t a n t i a t e a n d l e g i t i m i z e our m e t h o d s t h r o u g h r e s e a r c h . I f we, as a n industry, discover by our r e s e a r c h t h a t we m u s t c h a n g e t h e w a y we are doing somet h i n g b a s e d on solid f a c t u a l data, t h e n t h e c h a n g e is necessary. The A e r o m e d i c a l R e s e a r c h Found a t i o n will a s s i s t us w i t h f u n d i n g a n d guidance. E a c h p r o g r a m h a s a u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y to s t u d y some aspect of a e r o m e d i c a l care, operations or safety. The e n t i r e i n d u s t r y can l e a r n from each o t h e r b u t we
AM$
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER1987 5