sinjunsihde

[/font:09c63e62dc] Yes, I certainly understand...Anyone that has long transport times will certainly want to vent just a little here. My particular county covers 4,000 sqm. And depending on where you are in the county, it could be up to 4 hour transport by ground. Average being 30-40 minutes, and just down right frustrating. However, I will say that my provider encourages flights for some patients that are more than 20 minutes away from a hospital. In the my region, we can call a helicopter/fixed-wing, even for not-so-critical patients. Most California based insurance companies will "COVER" a flight under certain circumstances....like a physicians request, a trauma, and in the event that the patient lives more than 20 minutes from a level 2 hospital. Some hospital personnel still have old school thinking; that TRAUMA is the only time to use an air service. However times are-a-changin'...and frankly its just better patient care. I have transported lots of patients that have been in extreme pain IE:hip fractures and the like. They deserved more than to spend 2 hours winding down mountain roads to the next highest level of care. They may be stable, but this can be a miserable, miserable ride for Paramedic, patient and the EMT who is driving at the medics request almost backwards in an attempt to ease the painful sway of the ambulance. Why would you put patients thru this? Some of this area is so rural...there are some calls that the ground unit never makes it to...just the helicopter. I realize this may not be a viable option for all providers, as the all knowing medical director has the final say. This just happens to be our policy, and again, its just better patient care.