Current through Vol. 42, No. 1, September 16, 2024
(a) All air ambulance aircraft shall have
radio capability to communicate air to ground, air to air, and ground to air.
The aircraft communication system will include two-way communications:
(1) with physician(s) who are responsible for
directing patient care in transit, and
(2) with ground personnel who coordinate the
transfer of the patient by surface transportation.
(b) The aircraft shall:
(1) have the capability to communicate
between the medical attendant and pilot, and
(2) be in compliance with the Oklahoma State
Interoperability Governing Body, and provide documentation that the aircraft
can communicate with hospitals utilizing VHF frequency 155.3400.
(c) All communications equipment
used for transmitting patient care information shall be maintained in full
operating condition and in good repair. Ambulance communications equipment
shall be capable of transmitting and receiving clear and understandable voice
communications to and from the base station at a reasonable distance. Radios on
aircraft shall be capable of transmitting and receiving the following traffic:
(1) Medical direction.
(2) Communication Center.
(3) EMS and law enforcement
agencies.
(d) The
medical team shall be able to communicate with each other during
flight.
(e) A communication
specialist shall be assigned to receive and coordinate all requests for the
medical transport service. Training of the designated person shall be
commensurate with the scope of responsibility and include:
(1) EMT certification, or the equivalent in
knowledge or experience which minimally includes:
(2) medical terminology,
(3) knowledge of EMS - roles and
responsibilities of the various levels of training,
(4) state and local regulations regarding
EMS,
(5) familiarization with
equipment used in the field setting,
(6) knowledge of Oklahoma State EMS
Rules,
(7) types of radio frequency
bands used in EMS systems,
(8) a
knowledge of the hazardous materials response and recognition procedure using
appropriate reference materials, and
(9) stress recognition and
management.
(f) Aircraft
shall communicate, when possible, with ground units securing unprepared landing
sites prior to landing.
(g) A
record of contact shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) time of call;
(2) name and phone number of requesting
agency;
(3) age, diagnosis or
mechanism of injury;
(4) referring
and receiving physician and facilities (for interfacility requests); as per
policy of the medical transport service.
(5) verification of acceptance of patient and
verification of bed availability by referring physician and facility.
(6) destination airport, refueling stops (if
necessary) location of transportation exchange and hours of
operation;
(7) ground
transportation coordination at sending and receiving areas;
(8) time of dispatch (time crew notified
flight is a go approved, post pilot OK's flight approval);
(9) time depart base (time of lift-off or
other site);
(10) number and names
of persons on board;
(11) amount of
fuel on board;
(12) estimated time
of arrival (ETA);
(13) pertinent
landing zone information;
(14) time
arrive location;
(15) time
helicopter arrives at landing zone or helipad;
(16) time depart location;
(17) time helicopter lifts off from landing
zone or helipad;
(18) time arrive
destination;
(19) time depart
destination;
(20) time arrive base;
and
(21) time aborted.
(h) The communication center shall
contain the following:
(1) At least one
dedicated phone line for the medical transport service;
(2) A system for recording all incoming and
outgoing telephone and radio transmissions regarding patient care with time
recording and playback capabilities. Recordings are to be kept for three (3)
years.
(3) capability to
immediately notify the medical transport team and on-line medical direction
(through radio, pager, telephone, etc.);
(4) a status board with information about
pre-scheduled flights/patient transports, the medical transport team on duty,
weather, and maintenance status;
(5) aircraft service area maps and navigation
charts shall be readily available.
(i) Each air ambulance service shall have in
place a protocol to insure no delay in aircraft response.
(1) The air ambulance service shall provide
to the caller a point of origin and an accurate ETA.
(2) In such cases where a delay is
anticipated, the air ambulance service called has a responsibility to notify
the caller and assist in referral to another licensed ambulance
service.
(j) The air
ambulance service shall be integrated with and communicate with other public
safety agencies, including ground emergency service providers. This shall
include participation in regional quality improvement reviews, regional
disaster planning, and mass casualty incident drills to include an integrated
response to terrorist events.
(k)
Air ambulances will provide to ground agencies and receiving facilities post
event reviews, feedback, or information for the purposes of improving
performance or safety.
