Maryland should consider reducing its medevac helicopter fleet and staffing flights with additional medics, a panel of national trauma experts said Tuesday.
Panelists recommending changes to the state’s medevac protocols following a fatal crash in September said Maryland also needs to adopt the same federal safety standards as commercial aviation. Overall, however, they said Maryland’s medevac system exceeds national averages.
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“Maryland already is a model for the system,” Robert MacKersie, trauma director at San Francisco General Hospital, said at the Linthicum hotel meeting. “These recommendations have potential for producing change, a change that could enhance the program and take it to the next level.”
Four people died in the Sept. 28 flight called to Waldorf to pick up two car accident victims, though neither had obvious signs of trauma. Since the copter crash, ambulance crews have been instructed to consult with a hospital before calling a helicopter for patients with less serious injuries.
The number of medevac flights has significantly dropped since the change, which panelists called “reasonable.” But they said it’s too soon to gauge an effect on patients.
They said that Maryland could safely reduce the number of medevac flights and that the state has more copters — 11 — than it needs.
“There is a diminishing return on the inputs and outcomes,” said Bryan Bledsoe, professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine. “It’s how much do you want to pay?”
Maryland has discussed seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems — as recommended by the panel — in the past, said Dr. Robert Bass, director of the state’s aeromedical program. But accreditation would require adding a medic to each flight and purchasing new safety equipment, Bass said, and each carries a cost.
Adopting more stringent federal aviation regulations also could be expensive, said Maj. Andrew McAndrew, Maryland State Police’s aviation commander. McAndrew said he already requested equipment that would help Maryland conform two years ago.
The panel’s recommendations got a mixed reaction from lawmakers.
Del. Dan Morhaim, a Baltimore County Democrat and emergency room doctor, said the state could get rid of some helicopters and hire more medics to staff the remainder.
“This is a good start,” Morhaim said. “We could have an excellent system, and maybe even a better one, with fewer helicopters.”
But Sen. E.J. Pipkin, an Eastern Shore Republican, cast doubt on the effect of a two-day panel he called “handpicked.”
“Thanksgiving is coming early for the people of Maryland because we’re getting served a big pile of turkey here,” Pipkin said. “This is not going to achieve the results we need.”
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