NEAA – the Northeast’s NEAA – the Northeast’s Answer to the Dangers of Answer to the Dangers of Competition in Helicopter Competition in Helicopter

EMSEMS

NEAA - BackgroundNEAA - Background

1989-1990 – Organization founded by 1989-1990 – Organization founded by Boston MedFlight, UMass Life Flight, and Boston MedFlight, UMass Life Flight, and Hartford Life StarHartford Life Star– Joint venture to facilitate information Joint venture to facilitate information

exchangeexchange

NEAA - BackgroundNEAA - Background

Original name – New England Air AllianceOriginal name – New England Air Alliance

Current name – North East Air AllianceCurrent name – North East Air Alliance– Present members include the original three – Boston Present members include the original three – Boston

MedFlight, UMASS Life Flight, and Hartford Life StarMedFlight, UMASS Life Flight, and Hartford Life Star– Additional members include Life Flight of Maine, Additional members include Life Flight of Maine,

Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and Life Net of New York.Dartmouth-Hitchcock, and Life Net of New York.

Name may change in the future due to Name may change in the future due to expansion of services to include ground and expansion of services to include ground and fixed wing operationsfixed wing operations

NEAA Program LocationsNEAA Program Locations

Aircraft are Aircraft are geographically geographically positioned to positioned to maximize regional maximize regional coverage.coverage.

Aircraft are based at Aircraft are based at or near tertiary care or near tertiary care centers.centers.

NEAA – Mission NEAA – Mission

Regional collaborative system of Critical Regional collaborative system of Critical Care transportCare transport

Share informationShare information

Discuss experiencesDiscuss experiences

Encourage communicationsEncourage communications

Maintain a safe and high quality of serviceMaintain a safe and high quality of service

NEAA – Early DiscussionsNEAA – Early Discussions

Framed with elements of industry driven Framed with elements of industry driven political issues and competition.political issues and competition.

Included:Included:– Equipment used – advantages and Equipment used – advantages and

disadvantagesdisadvantages– Medical protocols Medical protocols

NEAA – Current StatusNEAA – Current Status

Expanded meetings to include aviation, Expanded meetings to include aviation, clinical and communications staffclinical and communications staff

Annual educational conference with Annual educational conference with rotating sponsorship and organization by rotating sponsorship and organization by the participating organizationsthe participating organizations

Quarterly meetings held in a centralized Quarterly meetings held in a centralized facilityfacility

NEAA – Recent DiscussionsNEAA – Recent Discussions

Most recent discussions have included:Most recent discussions have included:– Safety issues and considerationsSafety issues and considerations– Program integrationProgram integration– Program updatesProgram updates– Crew member orientationCrew member orientation– Customer serviceCustomer service– Peer evaluationPeer evaluation– Committee structuresCommittee structures– Wage and salary discussionsWage and salary discussions

NEAA - SubgroupsNEAA - Subgroups

Subgroups formed:Subgroups formed:– Pilot forumPilot forum– Communication techniciansCommunication technicians– Nurse and paramedic team membersNurse and paramedic team members– Administrative groupAdministrative group

NEAA – Current ProjectsNEAA – Current Projects

Web site development – designed in 2004Web site development – designed in 2004– Online access to:Online access to:

Area NOTAMSArea NOTAMS

LZ coordinationLZ coordination

Hazards, obstructionHazards, obstruction

Group forum discussionsGroup forum discussions

Regional development of disaster protocolsRegional development of disaster protocols

Multi-organizational vehicle contingency plan Multi-organizational vehicle contingency plan (VCP)(VCP)

NEAA-Current ProjectsNEAA-Current Projects

Standard operating protocolsStandard operating protocols

Hospital capacity informationHospital capacity information

Shared employmentShared employment

ConclusionConclusion

Regional collaborative system of Critical Care Regional collaborative system of Critical Care Transport has many positive outcomes:Transport has many positive outcomes:– Benefits patients firstBenefits patients first– Enhances operational efficiency through Enhances operational efficiency through

standardizationstandardization– Enhances SafetyEnhances Safety– Reduces health care $$ and redundancy of servicesReduces health care $$ and redundancy of services– Disaster efficiencyDisaster efficiency– Cooperative program educationCooperative program education