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MEMORIAL HERMANN WINTER 2014 A Newsletter for First Responders Welcome to Memorial Hermann Life Flight’s quarterly newsletter for Memorial Hermann Life Flight® first responders. We hope you find the information contained within Now Conducting Flights Under IFR this publication interesting and informative. Our goal is to provide you with helpful articles about our services, case studies relevant to clinical protocols practiced on a daily basis, information about available educational opportunities, and any other updates that you as a first responder may find useful. We value the work you do and are grateful for your partnership as we work together to serve the people of Houston and its surrounding communities. Thank you. In honor of the founder and medical director of Life Flight, James “Red” Duke, M.D., administrators applied for and were assigned a worldwide call sign of “Red Duke.” All Life Flight communications with Air Traffic Control while on IFR flights use the “Red Duke” call sign. Memorial Hermann Life Flight’s Advanced Capabilities: emorial Hermann Life Flight®, weather conditions might restrict flights the only hospital-based air under VFR. We can go above the clouds or • Pre-hospital blood product administration ambulance serving Houston and in the clouds using our autopilot and/or our • LVAD M surrounding communities, has added navigation instrumentation. Every airline • ECMO another groundbreaking innovation to its conducts flights using IFR, and now we are • Intra-aortic balloon pump • Portable blood warmers already long list of “firsts,” becoming the first operating under the same conditions.” • Ultrasound diagnostics air-ambulance program in Southeast Texas to • Double-load capability be granted authority to conduct flights under According to Grubbs, Life Flight has been • Larger cabin (allows for CPR in the aircraft) instrument flight rules (IFR) by the Federal missing an average of 600 flights annually • Clot-busting agents for STEMI Aviation Administration (FAA). This new due to inclement weather, affecting close to • Direct access to Cath Lab for STEMI capability allows Life Flight crews to utilize 15 percent of patient flight requests. While • Direct access to CT for strokes aircraft flight instruments and advanced some flights may still not be possible in cases • ISTAT portable blood analyzer navigation systems rather than relying of very bad weather conditions, the use of IFR • Video-assisted intubations solely on visual cues or what is referred to will significantly expand Life Flight’s ability • Hemostatic agents for blood clotting in aviation as visual flight rules (VFR). to safely serve the community, he said. “Being • Direct contact with physicians IFR-capable, trained and equipped offers • Night vision goggles for all crew members during flight to improve safety “By becoming IFR-certified, we are now able much higher levels of safety during every flight • Twin-engine aircraft for patient and crew to operate safely during the en route phase we conduct by giving our crews options when member safety and extra weight-loading regardless of visibility and cloud ceilings,” un-forecast weather is encountered.” capabilities said Christopher “Todd” Grubbs, ATP, chief • Pediatric and neonatal transport services pilot of Life Flight. “This capability allows In addition, weather decisions for flight our crews to serve the community when continued on page 12 LifeFlight Life Flight’s IFR Certification Provides Multiple Benefits to Community Hospitals and Pre-Hospital Providers ince Memorial Hermann Life cannot fly,” Grubb said. “But, we are now For outlying hospitals and emergency Flight® made its debut as the first air able to fly in conditions that previously we responders who rely on Life Flight as the Sambulance service in Texas and only could not using VFR. By achieving this premier patient air transport service for the the second in the nation in 1976, more than certification, we are poised to make an critically ill or injured, the new certification 130,000 critically ill and injured patients enormous stride in safety and a have a great provides a host of benefits. Most importantly, across the region have reaped the benefit effect on the helicopter emergency medical said Grubbs, Life Flight is now simply able of what is often the quickest transport service community in Southeast Texas.” continued on page 11 available to receive life-saving care. Even under the most difficult and chaotic of scenarios – from a multiple vehicle car crash Life Flight Adding Proprietary GPS Procedures to in the furthest outreaches of Harris County, Further Enhance IFR Capabilities to the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina where Life Flight crews were the first to In an effort to maximize Life Flight’s new instrument flight rules (IFR) capabilities arrive to transport the sickest of the sick – and further reduce patient transport time, the program is adding its own the unmistakable red and black helicopter proprietary global positioning system (GPS) procedures to several of the hospitals descending from above is a welcome relief for and heliports in the Greater Houston area. These procedures will allow for direct first responders and hospital workers when takeoff and landing at multiple locations that historically might be restricted to critical transport is needed most. use under visual flight rules (VFR) only. The new system will be a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved IFR However, even as the most storied and approach network, which will include most hospitals within the Memorial Hermann experienced air ambulance program in the Health System, the Life Flight fueling sites and a number of emergency medical region, Life Flight has missed, on average, at service (EMS) rendezvous sites. least 600 flights per year because of weather. “It’s a difficult situation for everyone on “This FAA-approved system allows us to fly approaches to a number of facilities, our team when we have to abort a flight and can dramatically reduce transport time,” said Christopher “Todd” Grubbs, because of unexpected weather during visual chief pilot of Life Flight. “If you are in the clouds and can’t fly visually, you have to flight rules (VFR) flights, particularly if do an approach procedure approved by the FAA. By creating our own approach the conditions are safe for operations using network, we can land directly at Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center and IFR,” said Christopher “Todd” Grubbs, other locations instead of landing at Hobby Airport and ground transporting the chief pilot. Now, as the first program based patient from there.” in Southeast Texas to receive authority to conduct flights under instrument flight rules The new, proprietary system allows for much more flight flexibility, said Grubbs. (IFR) by the Federal Aviation Administration “By implementing an instrument approach network with our hospital and EMS (FAA), the team expects to slash that number partners in the community, we will also be authorized to depart from those of missed flights by up to 40 percent. facilities using IFR and transition into the safety of the Air Traffic Control system,” he said. “It coincides perfectly with our System’s vision to be innovators, promote “Being IFR-certified is not a perfect solution, growth, enhance patient safety and achieve operational excellence.” and there will still be instances when we 2 LifeFlight Life Flight’s IFR Certification – Frequently Asked Questions elow are some common questions from EMS providers, first responders Band outlying hospital care providers. If you have additional questions about the new certification or any other Life Flight question, please email [email protected]. Q. Can Life Flight now fly in all weather conditions? A. No. While IFR allows us to fly when weather might prevent VFR flight due to cloud height and decreased visibility, we are limited during thunderstorms (rain showers are not thunderstorms), icing conditions and extremely low visibility (fog). during IFR-conducted flights. The pilot Hardin – Hawthorne Field (Kountze) will be focused on air traffic control Harris – Numerous (Tomball, Baytown, Q. How can EMS use Life Flight for communications. LaPorte, Houston has five airports) scene calls? Houston – Houston County Airport A. Many locations where we routinely Q. What airports can be used to meet Life (Crockett) respond to scenes are near airports that Flight in case of bad weather conditions? Jasper – Jasper County-Bell Field (Jasper) would allow us to rendezvous with EMS. A. There are dozens of IFR-capable airport Jefferson – Beaumont Municipal and Jack During the request for Life Flight, our locations throughout Southeast Texas. See Brooks Regional (Port Arthur) communications personnel will advise the complete list here. IFR Airports in Lee – Giddings-Lee County (Giddings) EMS if we would require meeting at a Southeast Texas: Liberty – Liberty Municipal and Cleveland nearby airport. Brazoria – Texas Gulf Coast Regional Municipal Airports Airport (Angleton/Lake Jackson) Madison – Madisonville Municipal Airport Q. Does it take longer to respond Brazos – Easterwood Field (College Matagorda – Bay City Municipal Airport for flights using IFR? Station) and Coulter Field (Bryan) and Palacios Municipal Airport A. It may add initial time for liftoff due to Burleson – Caldwell Municipal Airport Montgomery – Lone Star Executive Airport flight plan filing and more detailed run-up Calhoun – Calhoun County Airport (Conroe) procedures. However, that time is made up (Port Lavaca)

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