Each new medical crew member employed by Boston MedFlight participates in an extensive competency based orientation and training program. This program is designed and organized to include clinical, safety, equipment, patient population and policy and protocol orientation and training. The entire orientation program is comprised of approximately 500 hours of training and education including the required introductory clinical rotations, clinical transport shifts, competency training and extensive supplemental reading and studying.

As completion of the orientation draws near, employees prove competency through testing in all equipment on each transport vehicle, proving safe practice working in and around all vehicles. New employees also prove competency in advanced patient care, ventilator management, advanced hemodynamic monitoring and advanced pharmacology through evaluation by their clinical preceptors.

Following orientation, medical crew members are placed on probation for a minimum period of 6 months, during which time their performance is closely monitored. For the first two years, new medical crew members are paired with senior crew members in order to guide them through many of the logistical considerations involved with transport medicine.

To help ensure the advanced level of care provided to patients by Boston MedFlight crew, all medical crew participate in an ongoing continuing education program. This program is integral to the success of BMF and to a bi-annual credentialing process. Each medical crew member completes various lectures and supervised clinical experiences which include: attendance at bi-weekly scheduled staff meetings/guest lecturers, quality management reviews, standards of care and protocol updates, and clinical education based on individual clinical needs.

Bi-weekly staff meetings include lectures by consortium hospital physicians and visiting lecturers to provide education regarding the newest standards of care for certain patient populations. Topics included, but are not limited to, updates in the following areas: trauma and burns, cardiology medical critical care, neonatal and pediatric critical care, obstetrical emergencies, toxicology, infectious disease, endocrinology, and morbidity and mortality. Additionally, case reviews are presented for discussion by our two staff physicians.

In addition to the bi-weekly staff meetings, BMF staff members are exposed to case reviews, equipment seminars and literature reviews. Each medical crew member must also complete a minimum of 50 hours of clinical education and training each year in various disciplines in an effort to maintain current understanding of medical treatments and practices.

ATLS - The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) is sponsored by the American College of Surgeons and provides a framework for the management of the injured patient.

Emergency Egress Training - Survival Systems Training Inc. instructs pilots, aircrew and passengers in water aircraft ditching emergency and escape procedures, as well as rescue and sea survival techniques.

Medical Simulation Training - The Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) is an educational organization dedicated to improving the quality of health care through teaching teamwork and clinical decision-making using simulation. CMS offers programs for physicians, nurses, technicians, and industry personnel using its unique simulated clinical environment.

FCCS - The Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS) is sponsored by the Society of Critical Care Medicine which provides exposure to fundamental principles of critical care. The course, which consists of lectures and skill stations, offers guidance for decision making in the care of critically ill patients during the initial hours of management.