The unparalleled aeromedical care patients receive on an
SAA flight is possible because of the high standard SAA requires of its staff. Flight nurses and paramedics are required
to have critical care/advanced care certification and average
10 years’ experience in a critical care environment that can
include the ER and ICU. They undergo extensive cardiac life
support and aviation physiology training as well as trauma
resuscitation and management training, pediatric advanced
life support and neonatal resuscitation training. In addition
to this they must complete the Extended Role Transport
Training Course (ERTTC) and Canadian Association of AeroMedical Transportation Systems (CAMATA), a nationally accredited aeromedical program.
In addition, the flight crew and aircraft itself help ensure patient safety. The planes are pressurized and thus able to fly
at higher altitudes above any turbulence and still maintain
a constant low cabin altitude, a key factor in the prevention
of serious complications like hypoxia, pneumoencephalopathy, and barobariatrauma etc. King Air 200 aircraft also
have the space to accommodate more than one patient, a
patient escort (usually a family member), or a physician-led
specialty team when needed.
SAA’s specialized and dedicated staff work together to provide a service that Dr. McGonigle, and rural physicians from
every corner of the province, trust to support their patients
and their practice. Should the need arise, SAA is always there
to respond in a crisis and rush patients from rural or remote
areas to larger centres, providing quality care along the way.
“Patients and their families trust that they will be able to access the most appropriate care when they present to our
hospital or their local clinic,” he says, “SAA is a particularly
crucial component of our health care infrastructure which
allows people to receive the care that they need.”
Roadmap tours the Saskatchewan Air Ambulance hangar.
RED PATIENT PROCESS
Referring physician calls PACC
(Provincial Aeromedical Coordination Centre)
PACC asks:
“Is your patient stable?”
“Is your patient stable
enough to wait 30
min to speak with a
consultant?”
No
The captains and first officers who ensure the medical crew
and patients arrive at their destination quickly and safely
have years of flight experience, much of it in northern and
high density airspace, extensive instrument flying experience, as well as training in aero medicine and aviation physiology.
Obtaining air
ambulance serv