All this stuff cracks me up!
We have FAA and gosh knows what other organization constantly reiterating the importance of flight planning and risk assessment and PIC responsibilities, etc. etc. but who's looking at the infamous liftoff times as the primary motivator of mistakes?
Helicopters aren't four wheeled ground-bound ambulances and the aviation side of the house (read FAA and NTSB and everyone involved) needs to take a look at outside sources (hospitals, operators, standards organizations etc.) requiring pilots to take off within a certain time frame, irrespective of whether proper preflight planning has been accomplished. The FARs say we must accomplish proper preflight planning and pretakeoff checks etc. etc., - they don't say one must liftoff within 4 minutes! What is it we aren't getting? FARs and safety of operations take precedence.
Sure, it is important not to waste time getting off the ground and to some
place to pick up a patient, but it is far more important not to make mistakes and create more patients/victims!
Cart before the horse sort of thing - or is it just plain dumber than dumb?