Use Of Medevac Helicopters Reduced
POSTED: 6:05 pm EDT September 4,
2008
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A senior official said that changes have been made to Maryland's Medevac program to cut unnecessary use of state police helicopters.The WBAL TV 11 News I-Team investigated the issue earlier this year. Dr. Robert Bass is director of the state's emergency medical response network. He told lawmakers in Annapolis on Thursday that patients within a 30-minute drive from a trauma center must be taken by ambulance, unless "extenuating" circumstances exist.
Patients in automobile roll-over accidents, high-speed crashes and other situations that were formerly believed to indicate a high likelihood of serious injury will no longer be automatically sent to trauma centers. Bass made his remarks to the legislature's Joint Committee on Health Care Delivery and Financing.He was defending the agency's performance after statistics indicated that nearly half of the patients flown by helicopter to Maryland trauma centers are released within 24 hours.
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Previous Stories:
- August 21, 2008: Audit: Maintenance Problems Ground Medevac Choppers
- March 4, 2008: Medevac Replacements Costs Could Rise
- February 22, 2008: Medevac Audit's Delay Frustrates Legislators
- November 29, 2007: I-Team: Closest Medical Helicopters Not Always Called
Copyright 2008 by wbaltv.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
