Last week, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) descended on Washington, D.C. for its spring meeting, training and legislative conference. The group represents air and ground medical transport providers including private firms, hospital-based, community-based and municipal crews. Personnel include paramedics, nurses, flight crews and the entire air medical team.

Mega-trends in health care have increased the need for critical evacuation and transport of patients. For example the trend toward consolidation of health care delivery into larger, regional centers of excellence has moved many ER specialists such as trauma surgeons into major facilities. Economic forces also affect this work.

"Lots of hospitals are challenged with relation to resources. So we have seen ERs close or be overloaded so that patients have to be transported more frequently," said Dawn Mancuso, AAMS Executive Director and CEO. "We do see demand continuing to grow as the health care system changes," she told DOTmed News.
Safety is probably the association's number one concern and it is working with federal regulators and legislators on related efforts.

"We talked about a number of issues including safety legislation, reimbursement issues and some bills going through Congress including FAA reauthorization and the need for increased low altitude aviation infrastructure for our flights," she said. AAMS would like to see additional weather reporting stations and other infrastructure improvements. The association also recently contributed to NTSB hearings on air medical safety.

Watch DOTmed News for ongoing coverage of this important constituency.

Ed note: No, the group did not descend on Washington by helicopter--air space is restricted.

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