Emergency Air Medical Program Adds Specialized Clinical Capability
17 Julio 2024 - 2:15PM
Cardiac patients requiring intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABPs) can
now be transported between hospitals for specialized care by the
emergency air medical teams with AirLift Texas. Starting today, the
critical care crews at both the rotor wing base in Waco and the
fixed wing base in New Braunfels, which serves the entire state of
Texas and beyond, are trained and equipped to perform this delicate
and highly specialized type of transport.
An intra-aortic balloon
is a medical device surgically placed in the aorta (the large
artery leaving the heart) by a cardiologist when the heart is
unable to pump blood effectively due to a heart attack or chronic
cardiac condition. The balloon is then attached to a pump that
inflates and deflates it to push blood through the body. This
intervention reduces pressure on the heart and keeps blood flowing
when the heart needs time to recover from a cardiac event. It can
even be used to assist patients waiting for heart
transplants.
“With heart disease as
the leading cause of death in the United States, these devices are
becoming more common,” said Joel Ramirez, area manager with Air
Methods, the nation’s leading emergency air medical service and
parent company of AirLift Texas. “Cardiologists are gaining the
ability to place these devices within smaller hospitals, but they
must rely on critical care transport teams to transfer patients to
larger hospitals capable of providing more advanced cardiac
treatment. The ability to fly these patients allows them to get the
care they need more quickly when time is precious.”
Both AirLift Texas bases
use the Getinge Cardiosave Hybrid Balloon Pump, which is the most
advanced transport balloon pump on the market. It utilizes
fiber-optic pressure sensing to pump with the heart for the most
accurate timing. The highly skilled flight nurses and flight
paramedics with AirLift Texas undergo annual didactic and hands-on
training, ensuring they are knowledgeable about the device and the
clinical needs of the most critical cardiac patients. Because of
the high level of training required, AirLift Texas is the only
community-based air medical program in the region providing this
type of specialty transport.
“When time is of the
essence, we have the ability to intervene with highly competent and
trained clinicians,” said Air Methods Clinical Director Eric
Connor. “Air Methods is and has been the industry leader in respect
to the level of training we provide to our flight nurses and flight
paramedics. Being able to provide this level of specialized
critical care transport will positively impact the lives of Texans
who need expedient and compassionate care.”
All Air Methods
clinicians have at least three years of experience in an emergency
or intensive care setting before joining a flight crew. They
receive ongoing advanced training, and every nurse and paramedic
has access to Air Methods Ascend, an in-person and online training
program that allows clinicians to perform at the top of their
licensure. Air Methods Ascend is available to medical personnel
across the country.
Air Methods is committed
to providing air medical services to all members of the communities
they serve and are in-network with most major health insurance
providers for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their
patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of
insurance, to ensure affordability.
- Balloon pump training onboard the aircraft
- Transporting patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps requires
on-going training
Denisse Coffman
Air Methods
720-666-8499
media@airmethods.com