FAQ
Who decides if ALNW will accept a flight
and how?
Our aviation partners – Air Methods Corporation or Executive
Flight, Inc work with their pilots to make the decision. They
are not told the nature of the call or a patient’s condition,
only the destination for pickup and delivery. This helps minimize
the pressure to accept a flight because of patient acuity.
Instead, the decision to fly is based on the pilot’s
assessment of flight conditions and safety.
Weather conditions
such as extremely hot or cold temperatures, wind, rain, or
cloud cover can limit the ability to respond
to a call. We follow strong weather minimums that often
exceed FAA requirements. Pilots and 24-Hour ComCenter
staff have
real-time, satellite weather at all base locations and
are now adding it to portable devices.
Can
patients go to any hospital?
Airlift Northwest will deliver patients to any medically
appropriate facility upon physician referral and physician
acceptance, or at the direction of pre-hospital
providers in consultation with their medical control.
How can our agency get our equipment back?
For agencies outside of King County, Airlift Northwest makes
every attempt to return equipment that was used during
patient transports. King County agencies can retrieve equipment
at Harborview's Emergency Department. For more information,
click here.
Is Airlift Northwest able to transport patients with ongoing
CPR?
Airlift Northwest provides Advanced Cardiac Life Support,
including CPR, in flight, when required.
Is it possible and safe to defibrillate while in flight?
Defibrillation can and is done safely in flight.
Is it required that the patient have an IV before Airlift
Northwest will transport?
No, Airlift Northwest flight nurses have intensive training
in obtaining a variety of access options and are able to
initiate IV access before or during transport.
Are Airlift Northwest flight nurses able to intubate?
Yes, specialized training has prepared Airlift Northwest
nurses to intubate patients of all ages during all phases
of transport.
Is it required that the patient be on a backboard?
It is an Airlift Northwest policy that all trauma patients
be secured on a backboard with cervical immobilization
for transport.
Can
a helicopter
land at areas that have not been "predesignated?"
Helicopters can land at any appropriate
landing site. In fact, landing at the scene of an accident
often saves time. For more information about landing zone requirements,
click here.
Are some patients too unstable to transport?
Airlift Northwest specializes in caring for critically ill
and/or unstable patients during transport.
Does
Airlift Northwest serve patients without health insurance?
Airlift Northwest's decisions for air medical services are
based on medical need — not on ability to pay.
Can family come
too? (Does Airlift Northwest allow riders?)
When a helicopter is being used to transport, there is no
room for a passenger and Airlift Northwest does not allow "ride-alongs."
When a patient is being transported by
fixed wing aircraft, the transport of a family member is
at the discretion of
the pilot and medical crew, but usually it is acceptable.
The referring hospital should notify Airlift Northwest if
a family
member
wishes to accompany the patient when making the initial transport
arrangements.
In all cases, the final decision regarding
transport of additional passengers is made by the pilot
in command of the aircraft and the medical crew.
What does "stand-by" mean?
The flight crew immediately goes to the helicopter and waits
for notification of takeoff, thereby saving several minutes
in response time. Requesting "stand-by" does
not reserve the aircraft. If an emergent flight request
is
received, the helicopter responds to the first "go" request.
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