Program Will Be Revamped, Seek Accreditation

Officials in Lee County, FL, have suspended flights of its MEDSTAR helicopters while the while the operation revamps its program and seeks accreditation. The action resulted in four people, three pilots and a the director of flight operations, losing their jobs.

The county's MEDSTAR operation used a primary and a backup aircraft for transport of critically injured or ill patients in the county. County officials were notified last week by the EMS/public safety staff of the decision to suspend the flights. They cited safety and budgetary concerns about the operation.

The county has mutual aid agreements with other medical helicopter services in the surrounding area, including Collier County EMS and two private companies. Kim Dickerson, deputy director of public safety and EMS chief, said that public safety in Lee County will not be affected.

Naplesnews.com reports that Lee Memorial Hospital System officials also say the move will not create a public safety problem. Dickerson said that MEDSTAR made 525 patient flights last year. The annual budget for flight operations was $3.3 million, according to Dickerson. She said that the number of patients needing transport had increased recently due to job losses and loss of insurance.

National accreditation requires such operations to have a critical care nurse, a paramedic, and a pilot on staff, which did not match the MEDSTAR staffing. Dickerson said that those let go would be eligible to re-apply for their jobs when the accreditation is achieved.

But one pilot, Mac McAlliser, said that the county wanted to replace employees such as himself who had complained to the FAA about safety issues. He said that there had been concerns raised with the agency about medical and cockpit configurations in the county's aircraft.

The accreditation process is expected to take between six and nine months.

FMI: www.lee-ems.com