Air Medical Journal最新文献

{"title":"One Mission, One Team: Celebrating 40 Years of Duke Life Flight","authors":"Anna Sapp RN, BSN, CCRN, C-NPT","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.05.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.05.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Duke LifeFlight, established in 1985, has provided four decades of exceptional critical care transport to patients across the Southeast. As one of the first hospital-based air medical programs in North Carolina, it has set the standard for safety, innovation, and clinical excellence.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>To commemorate the 40-year anniversary, celebrated last year, of Duke LifeFlight by highlighting its historical milestones, evolving capabilities, and lasting impact on patient outcomes and prehospital care.</div></div><div><h3>Methods/Approach</h3><div>A retrospective review of archival data, program development timelines, and patient care advancements. Key performance indicators and patient transport volumes were analyzed to illustrate growth and effectiveness.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Since inception, Duke LifeFlight has completed thousands of transports, expanded to include rotor- and fixed-wing aircraft capabilities as well as critical care ground teams, and maintained accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). Innovations in training, telemedicine, and trauma care have further elevated its regional and national standing.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Over 40 years, Duke LifeFlight has exemplified resilience, clinical excellence, and leadership in critical care transport. As it enters a new era, the program remains dedicated to advancing prehospital medicine and continuing its mission of delivering lifesaving care when seconds matter most.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 22-25"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"General Information","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/S1067-991X(25)00360-8","DOIUrl":"10.1016/S1067-991X(25)00360-8","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Page 7"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947764","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Air Embolism After Diving and Decisions Surrounding Air Transport","authors":"Mary Kraby RN, CFRN, CCRN,&nbsp;Michael Dunn FP-C,&nbsp;Andrea Tsai MD,&nbsp;Michael Frakes APRN, NRP,&nbsp;Jason Cohen DO,&nbsp;Susan R. Wilcox MD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A healthy young woman sustained severe hyperbaric injury after scuba diving, despite having done previous dives. She had an asystolic cardiac arrest immediately after ascent and was resuscitated for 90 minutes before return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). After ROSC, she remained profoundly unstable, on multiple vasopressors, with refractory hypothermia and hypoxemia. She was diagnosed with arterial gas emboli (AGE) leading to arrest. The only treatment for AGE is rapid hyperbaric oxygen therapy, but she was too acute to be cared for in any local hyperbaric chamber. The closest chamber that could accommodate a patient of her acuity was 440 miles away. The critical care transport team was prepared to transport her, but such a transport created numerous clinical and logistical challenges.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 81-84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Facilitators and Barriers Influencing Resilience Amongst Critical Care Transport Professionals in a Fixed-Wing Air Ambulance Environment","authors":"Karien Basson RN, MCur (DCur candidate) ,&nbsp;Isabel Coetzee-Prinsloo RN, PGCHE, MCur, Dlitt et Phil, FANSA ,&nbsp;Annatjie van der Wath RN, BCur, MCur, DCur ,&nbsp;Letitia Greenberg BA, Ba (Hons)","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.001","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.001","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study describes the facilitators and barriers influencing resilience in a fixed-wing air ambulance environment.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Self-reported interview guides were used to explore and describe the facilitators and barriers influencing resilience among critical care transport professionals in a fixed-wing air ambulance environment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings revealed 12 facilitators and 8 barriers influencing resilience among critical care transport professionals in a fixed-wing air ambulance environment in South Africa.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings revealed 12 facilitators and eight barriers influencing resilience among CCTPs in the fixed-wing air ambulance environment in South Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 17-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947933","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Air Medical and Transport Simulation Training of Critically Ill Cases With Radioactive Contamination in Nuclear Power Stations by Japanese Helicopter Emergency Medical Services","authors":"Shinsuke Tanizaki MD ,&nbsp;Hiroyuki Azuma MD ,&nbsp;Hisamasa Ishii MD ,&nbsp;Naoto Okabe ,&nbsp;Tatsuro Yoshinaga ,&nbsp;Kenji Nakaya ,&nbsp;Taketsune Kobuchi MD ,&nbsp;Tetsuya Kimura MD ,&nbsp;Shigenobu Maeda MD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) personnel require specialized training and continuous skill development tailored to their unique operational demands. These demands may include managing critically ill patients with radioactive contamination within radiologically controlled areas to ensure the delivery of high-quality care and safety. A unified consensus was archived after several discussions among relevant agencies, incorporating the safety of flight personnel of the helicopter-operating company and HEMS medical staff. Standardized procedures were developed. To our knowledge, no simulation-based training program for HEMS crew currently exists that specifically addresses the management of critically ill patients with radioactive contamination in such environments. This report aims to assess the validity of the training scenario based on newly established procedures throughout participant’s self-reported questionnaires.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>An air medical and transport simulation training was conducted for life-threatening illnesses involving radioactive contamination at nuclear power stations. Participants completed self-reported evaluations using a 5-point Likert scale to assess the training.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The specialized simulation scenario involved a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage and suspected localized external contamination. The median scores for scenario-related scores were 1, indicating the highest levels of agreement, whereas the median scores for overall training and post-training feedback were 2, also demonstrating relatively high levels of agreement.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>In our experience, simulation training scenarios involving critically ill patients with radioactive contamination in nuclear facilities enhance the competencies of both flight personnel and HEMS medical staff. These scenarios also support smoother implementation of HEMS responses to incidents within nuclear facilities and provide a basis for ongoing refinement and improvement of operational procedures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 39-44"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947969","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of Health Care Simulation in Air Medical Settings: A Scoping Review","authors":"William B. Belk MSc ,&nbsp;Marybeth Wiedemann MSc ,&nbsp;Paul O’Connor PhD ,&nbsp;Roisin O’Malley PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Simulation-based training is well suited to unique and high-risk settings such as air medicine. Given that the use of simulation to educate air medical professionals continues to grow, there is a need to understand how simulation-based training methods have been used in air medicine thus far. This scoping review aimed to explore the use of simulation as a training method for air medical professionals.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The current review was conducted according to the 5-step process established by Arksey and O’Malley and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Five electronic databases were searched, alongside gray literature and reference list screening. Studies that used simulation-based methods to train air medical professionals were included.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 21 included studies, most programs used scenario-based simulation (65.0%), multimodal simulation (30.0%), or simulated participants (5.0%). Simulation programs typically involved native teams and targeted team development (50.0%) or focused on contextualized clinical skill building with partial teams (40.0%), whereas a single study focused on hands-on instruction of foundational clinical skills (5.0%) and observed and debriefed teams in the clinical setting (5.0%). The most common form of assessment was of reactions to the simulation program (55.0%), followed by changes in learning (45.0%), behavior (5.0%), and organizational impact (5.0%).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Research is required to identify the unique needs of the air medical setting and develop effective and feasible methods to address learning outcomes, the impact of which must be evaluated. Simulation should be embedded into air medical training programs, and educators should be supported with the resources, materials, and learning facilities needed to develop effective simulation programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 69-76"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Obesity Status Is a Predictor of Prolonged Interfacility Transport by Air Ambulance: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study","authors":"Setti I. Belhouari MD ,&nbsp;Brodie T. Nolan MD, MSc ,&nbsp;James J. Jung MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.012","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.08.012","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Delays in access to emergency care are potentially detrimental to patient health. Evidence suggests that patients with obesity may be more prone to delays in health care settings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The primary objective of this study is to determine whether obesity status is an independent predictor of prolonged interfacility transport by air ambulance to access definitive care in Ontario, Canada. This was a population-based retrospective cohort study of all emergent interfacility transfers of patients, at least 16 years of age, performed by Ontario’s sole air ambulance provider, a total of 15,466 patients, from January 2017 to December 2020. Six different time intervals were identified during the patients’ transfers from the site of emergency to a sending facility and, then, to a receiving facility. Obesity status was defined by the ambulance provider as weight ≥120 kg, and covariables included patient-, paramedic-, and institution-level characteristics. The primary outcome was the change in total modifiable time of transfer, defined as the sum of the 6 time intervals. Multivariable regression analyses explored the relationship between obesity status and total modifiable time after risk adjustment.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the 15,466 patients transferred, 739 (4.8%) were classified with obesity status. The median total modifiable time was 137 minutes. Obesity status was associated with increase of 41 minutes in total modifiable time (95% confidence interval, 14-67 minutes; <em>P</em> &lt; .01). Use of a rotor aircraft was associated with a reduction in total modifiable time of 154 minutes (95% confidence interval, 131-177 minutes; <em>P</em> &lt; .01).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Obesity status was associated with an increase in modifiable duration of emergent air ambulance interfacility transfers in Ontario.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 26-33"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transitioning From Fire-Based EMS to Critical Care Flight Medicine","authors":"Christopher A. Warren NRP, FP-C, CCP-C","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Transitioning from fire-based emergency medical services to the world of critical care flight medicine represents a dramatic professional evolution. This shift demands not only new clinical competencies but also a profound transformation in mindset, autonomy, and operational readiness. Fixed-wing critical care flight paramedics must master complex equipment, medications, and physiology under unique constraints, including altitude and international operations. This subject review explores the nuances of this transition from firsthand experience, offering insight to clinicians considering or undergoing the shift into aeromedical transport.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 85-86"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prehospital Symptom Management for Pediatric Patients","authors":"Ashley A. Macdonald ACP ,&nbsp;Jonathan Lee CCP ,&nbsp;Aaron J. Lacy MD, MHPE ,&nbsp;James L. Li MD, MEd, FAEMS","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.10.011","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 12-14"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pilot Study Assessing Feasibility of Focused Newborn Cardiac Ultrasound by Transport Team Members to Identify Hypoxemic Congenital Heart Disease","authors":"Brittany Shutes MD, MPH ,&nbsp;Jonathan A. Wheeler MD ,&nbsp;Charles McCombs MD ,&nbsp;Caleb Carmin RN ,&nbsp;Samantha Gee MD ,&nbsp;Karen Texter MD ,&nbsp;John Kovalchin MD ,&nbsp;Clifford L. Cua MD ,&nbsp;Delia Gold MD","doi":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.amj.2025.09.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Hypoxemia is a common presentation of neonatal critical illness. Identifying critical congenital heart disease (CHD) causing hypoxemia is pivotal in determining immediate medical management. In this work, the preliminary results from development of a transport team–focused cardiac ultrasound (US) protocol were presented.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Phase 1 involved baseline survey of transport team motivation and prior experience followed by structured education and hands-on simulation sessions to teach the basics of cardiac anatomy and US. Participants complete pre- and post-education knowledge assessments. In phase 2, participants performed supervised bedside US on hospitalized infants to practice skills, familiarize themselves with the handheld US device, and learn the focused cardiac US protocol. The US images were compared with a recent comprehensive echocardiogram and assessed for image quality and diagnostic certainty by 2 pediatric cardiologists.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 25 transport team members completed paired pre- and post-testing in phase 1. They had high team member motivation to improve US skills and cardiac anatomy knowledge and demonstrated improved post-education scoring with median score increasing from 20/43 (47%) (interquartile range [IQR]: 17-25) to 34/43 (79%) (IQR: 34-41.5) (<em>P</em> &lt; .05). In phase 2, 17 transport members completed 42 scans on 14 unique infants, 10 with CHD. Of 42 scans, 39 (93%) had sufficient image quality to make a diagnosis, with 37 (88%) having “high” diagnostic certainty and 36 (86%) matched complete transthoracic echocardiogram, without missed diagnosis. The median completion time was 17 (IQR: 12.8-20.6) minutes.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The first 2 phases of this study have demonstrated that transport team members can use handheld US technology to obtain timely and sufficient quality cardiac images to allow for identifying and triaging of CHD in infants. This novel, resource-conscious application has the potential to streamline the care of hypoxemic newborns after undergoing protocol efficiency refinement, independent proficiency testing, and study of remote application.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":35737,"journal":{"name":"Air Medical Journal","volume":"45 1","pages":"Pages 63-68"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145947916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}