Shell Management
The IHST has brought up a lot of nice ideas. Some or most of them might be implemented if we could just get the adrenalin out, and the professionalism in, which is of course the thrust of what they are addressing, professionalism. Perhaps there should be formal licensing to be a medical crewmember, from the aviation authorities. It really puts them on the hook with respect to their performance and levels the aviation playing field whilst aloft.
For a pilot to help a medical person, to the extent we can, I have never seen a problem. However, for a medical person to help a pilot, it seems they are all about control, which is indeed what they are taught - control the situation, whether it is in the hospital, or on the street. Obvious reasons for this, and sets up an obvious subtle conflict in the pilot's mind.
However, what the pilot needs is for the medical person to think like a pilot, appreciate the pilot's perspective, and help fill in the gaps in his or her progressive thinking, as the flight unfolds.
The other thing is complication! EMS pilots make so bloody many radio calls it is distracting, then the safety gear in summer, etc. etc.
My general hit list: Get the adrenalin out, and the professionalism in
Get the medical people thinking like pilots to the extent they can provide help to him or her.
Right now where the rubber meets the road, the pilot, there is nothing but drastically mounting initiatives involving the amount of illumination of the moon, a risk matrix, doing all of every bit of admin before taking off, make a LOT of radio calls, etc. To me this is NOT very helpful - the ideas are good, but it just amounts to a load of distraction to performing a safe flight.
Simplify!
Thank you.