But it’s not simply about speed. Joined
together with the quick response is
demonstratedmedical acumen, which takes
the form of a team that includesflight
paramedics,nurses with critical-care
skillsand transport physicians. Many of the
paramedics and nurses hold positions with
emergency medical services or hospital
critical-care departments. The physicians
provide medical oversight on all missions
and are on-board for 10 percent of patient
transports.
STARS helicopters also transport pediatric
intensive care unit (PICU) teams for
patients younger than 17 years and neonatal
intensive care unit teams (NICU) for
newborn patients younger than 28 days.
One member of the STARS medical air
crew assists the specialty teams as needed
during thosemissions.
It was the first helicopter EMS operation in
Canada to stock blood at bases to allow
transfusions without stopping at a hospital,
and it was the first civilian organization to
use night-vision goggles – maintaining an
extensive program to make them available
to all pilots across six bases. Yet another
program has implemented the use of video
laryngoscopes, and on-board ultrasound
has become standardpractice.
An internal review is undertaken on all
56 | BusinessWorld |
May 2014
