Friday, June 6, 2008
** Houston, Texas hires tele-nurses to ease EMS pressure
** Pittsburgh response times lagging
** Preliminary report into Michigan air ambulance crash released
UNITED STATES NEWS
** In an effort to free up unnecessary dispatch of ambulances, Houston, Texas has decided to hire tele-nurses to assist EMS operators. That is the word from The Houston Chronicle (Carolyn Feibel/June 5) which said the decision will see the nurses offer first aid advice or referrals to clinics or doctors when some non emergent cases arise. Saving the city money, the move will also aid citizens who either can’t afford hospital transport or are uninsured. Current ambulance rates run users about $7.50 per mile or an average of about $450 per ride. Once implemented, it is expected the nurses could handle as many as 100 calls each day.
** EMS response times in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are continuing to climb, with the latest stats indicating emergencies see units arrive on scene within an average of 12 minutes. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Adam Brandolph/June 5) said the numbers are up over a minute from 2003. The gold standard urban response is usually about eight minutes. Pittsburgh EMS Chief Robert J. McCaughan attributed the problem to staffing cuts and vehicle reductions. Over the last four years, the city has reduced paramedic complements by 30 and ambulances by four.  Pittsburgh Fraternal Order of Professional Paramedics president Tony Weinmann agreed, adding ER crunches are also contributing.
** A May 29th  air ambulance accident in Grand Rapids, Michigan may have occurred after the chopper’s tail rotor struck a radio tower. That is the possibility being dangled by Aero-News Network (June 5) which quoted from a preliminary National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report released Thursday. According to the news site, the Aero Med Sikorsky S-76 crashed after takeoff from the Spectrum Health Hospital helipad. Two people were onboard at the time;both escaped serious injury. With most of the incident recorded on hospital security cameras, the crash cause was also discerned by post mishap examination of the tower video cameras. Both the camera support structure and the unit itself showed impact marks. Witness accounts also support the theory.
