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Communications between
Boston MedFlight and outside agencies is extremely important
in the coordination of air and ground transport of patients.
Boston MedFlight has a dedicated Communications Center and highly
trained Communications Specialists to assist in the overall
transport management, from the time of the initial request to
the completion of the mission.
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| Communications
Center |
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Boston
MedFlight's Communication Center is a dedicated operations
center, staffed by certified EMT's, 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week. Communication Specialists are responsible for coordinating
and facilitating the transport of critically ill and injured
patients by fixed wing, rotor wing, or ground services. They
also serve as a resource for other helicopter and critical
care services. Incoming calls are answered and directed to
the appropriate vehicles by means of VHF and/or UHF communications.
Additional information is communicated through a pager system.
Communications Specialists maintain an ongoing database of
landing zone information and updated telephone lists.
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| Communications
Specialist Training: |
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Training
for a Communications Specialist position consists of a competency
based 8-10 week comprehensive orientation program, in which
the communication specialist is paired with a preceptor. During
the orientation process, aircraft operations, safety, communications
equipment and resource utilization objectives are met. Communications
Specialists are encouraged to participate in patient transports,
cross train with other flight programs, and make a site visit
to the Hanscom Flight Control Tower.
In addition to computer skills, communications specialists
are trained in the use of an online, continuous weather tracking
system used to relay weather information to pilots in command
and monitor a satellite tracking program. Within the first
year of employment, all communications specialists complete
the National Association of Airmedical Communications Specialists
(NAACS) program and the Association of Public Safety Communications
Officials (APCO).
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| Hospital
Designation |
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In
conjunction with consortium hospitals, Boston MedFlight has
developed a roster system for patient transport to appropriate
institutions. Eligible patients include patients flown from
the scene and patients in need of an interfacility transport
originating from an emergency department or operating room,
in which an accepting physician has not been identified. Once
our Communications Center has identified the need for utilization
of the undesignated roster system, the Communications Specialist
will notify the accepting physician and facilitate physician
to physician contact. Our Communications Specialist will also
notify the appropriate hospital in the instance of a scene
transport where additional information is later transmitted
to the receiving hospital through Boston CMED (Centralized
Emergency Medical Dispatch).
Presently, there are five rosters, which rotate among the
appropriate hospitals. The rosters fit the following categories
of patients: adult trauma, adult med/surg, pediatric trauma,
pediatric med/surg, and burns.
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| Landing
Zone (LZ) Coordination |
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Efforts to develop pre-designated landing zone assignments
among town fire departments and Boston MedFlight personnel
have resulted in the development and identification of specific
landing zones which serve as a guide to coordinate the transfer
of patients from the scene in a timely and safe manner.
The landing zone guide is updated continually as landing
zones are added or deleted for reasons such as construction
projects, suitability, and hazards.
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