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Establishing an Evidence-Based Utilization Review
Kevin Collopy, MHL, FP-C, NRP, CMTE, FAEMS
Novant Health AirLink/VitaLink
Air medical transport utilization review is a core tenant of mature quality management systems. But, what does a utilization review need to entail, and what determines the appropriate use of limited air medical transport resources? Come join in an engaging conversation that looks at the published clinical data behind use of air medical transport and begin to look beyond "admitted from the emergency department."
This presentation will review how one program has developed a blinded regular report that is shared with regional hospital and EMS partners with established over-triage benchmarks and objective criteria determining appropriate helicopter use. Walk away empowered to evaluate transports to split them into appropriate use and over triage categories that will allow your team to determine appropriate and inappropriate over triage. Come join in a discussion that reviews not only how to establish over-triage rates, but explores how to provide this feedback to transport system partners.
CRBN in Aeromedical Transport
Ina Schmidt, President
ICARUS e.V
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) threats pose unique challenges in aeromedical transport, requiring specialized medical, logistical, and operational strategies to ensure patient and crew safety. This session will explore the complexities of managing CBRN-exposed casualties in the air transport environment, focusing on triage, containment, decontamination, medical interventions, and aeromedical evacuation protocols.
Key discussion points include:
Through case studies, expert discussions, and operational lessons learned, this session will provide practical solutions for safely evacuating and treating CBRN casualties in the challenging aeromedical transport environment.
Neonatal Intubation: Can We Do It Better? A Quality Approach
Cody Greenwood, DNP, RN, CCRN, CMTE, EMT
Cook Children's Health Care System
Over the past two years, the team at Cook Children’s has been working diligently on a Neonatal First Pass Intubation Quality approach to improve intubation success. We wanted to understand where we were at the start of the PDSA, how we improve first-pass rates, and what our direction should be. Working closely with our Quality Assurance chair, Education, and Outreach Education we reviewed data across a three-year period to assess performance.
Throughout the past three years, we have incorporated Simulation experiences, documentation required intubation of Manikin heads, and new micro preemie manikin, ongoing documented Operating Room practice, a new Neo View intubation instrument, recorded video presentation from our Anesthesia department, and the acquisition of fetal pigs for intubation practice. An integral piece of the PDSA puzzle was the review and buy-in for the intubation medication protocol introduced by our medical center. Our practice was not streamlined for this cohort, and we believed that incorporating a directed approach to medication administration for these infants would improve our practice. We have presented our findings to the team on multiple occasions over the past three years in staff meetings.
Under the guidance of our Neonatal Medical Director, each of our Registered Nurses and Respiratory Therapists that can perform neonatal intubation were included in the training of the Neo View by the Neonatal Medical Director that was purchased for our LISA procedure. All staff were allowed to participate in scenario-based training that incorporated medication administration of the protocol during simulation and medication calculation for further reinforcement.
Reimagining the Reasons for Human Error, a Guide to Learning not Blaming
Susan Gidding, MHS, RN, RRT & Jeff Kotson, B.Ed, MS, MA
Life Flight Network
Life Flight Network is among the largest non-profit organizations in the U.S. with leaders studying Human Factors and applying Human Factors science to safety and quality investigations. Life Flight Network implemented a Human Factors and Ergonomics team in 2023 and has completed dozens of report investigations using our Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) to learn and improve. This type of investigation avoids blame and searches for organizational and system problems that may have contributed to errors and mishaps. The Human Factors and Ergonomics team is led by two staff members with training in human factors, quality improvement methods, a Just Culture and patient safety science.
Learn how LFN implemented a Human Factors and Ergonomics team and hardwired a culture of learning. The Human Factors and Ergonomics Team at Life Flight Network exists with the primary purpose of more thoughtful and thorough investigation into causes of events chronicled in Quality Management Reports and Safety Reports. By studying the human factors that contributed to events, we can better understand why they occurred and thus develop more successful resolutions and improved systems.
The Perfect Storm: How System Failures Compromise Patient Safety
Katrina Solaro, FP-C, MTSP-C, LIFT-C, B.S., Care Flight
Krista Haugen, MN, RN, CMTE, National Patient Safety Advocate
This interactive session will explore a real-world patient safety event involving the dislodgement of an endotracheal (ETT) tube examined through the lens of human factors and systems thinking. Rather than attributing the error to individual actions, we will analyze the multiple failures across various subsystems that contributed to the event. Participants will engage in an open, interactive discussion aimed at identifying key breakdowns between different subsystems, such as communication, workflow, equipment design, and organizational processes that led to the adverse outcome.
Adopting a structured, blame-free approach, we will work through the investigation process to uncover root causes and systemic vulnerabilities. This session emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of learning and safety rather than punishment, ensuring that insights from the event drive meaningful improvements. By applying human factors principles, participants will explore strategies to prevent similar events, enhance teamwork, and design safer systems that support both patients and clinical care providers.
Ergonomic AI: Decrease On the Job Injuries and Increase Employee Wellness
Sheryl Williams, RN, BSN, CCRN, CFRN, CMTE, MTSP-C
Air Methods
This session will show how an Ergonomic program created using AI has helped decreased injuries such as lifting, climbing, loading, and unloading to our Clinicians, Pilots, and Mechanics. We created computer learning modules that included videos of our employees completing their duties with AI interpretation of the risk of injury for those activities. These videos included loading and unloading different aircrafts and ambulances as well as climbing ladders, lifting heavy equipment, working in and around aircrafts.
When risky or dangerous activities were identified the modules included ways to mitigate injuries from happening.
The learning modules also included Patient Handling, Wellness and Nutrition, and general injury reduction information.
In addition to the computer learning modules, we also created job specific musculoskeletal stretching and strengthening exercises to further decrease injuries and promote wellness.
Since its inception a year ago, we now have data to support the decrease in injuries and increase in wellness for these employees.
Elevating Patient Care in Air Medical Transport
Susan Gidding, MHS, RN, RRT, CPHFH & Patti Corbett, Life Flight Network
Cindy Seidl, RN, BScN, MN, STARS
Our distinguished panel of air medical quality and patient safety experts, comprised of members of the AAMS Quality and Patient Safety Committee, will present current day issues and answer audience questions related to quality and patient safety. Representing programs from both the US and Canada, these experts bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the forum, making it an invaluable opportunity for learning and collaboration.