Carroll County Times Other Voices: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea

Carroll County Times Other Voices: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea, Other Voices Saturday, October 25, 2008

Dr. Thomas Scalea, Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, has written a short, but nevertheless compelling and persuasive for the Maryland State Police Medevac system, which has been brought into question as a result of a recent tragedy.

I cannot agree with Dr. Scalea more…

Related: On October 10, 2008 I wrote about The Future of Maryland Medevac in The Tentacle:

The recent tragic crash of the Maryland State Police aviation command Medevac helicopter has unfortunately developed a subplot for those who wish to further a debate about the future of the vital air rescue service.

The debate began before grieving co-workers, friends, and family hardly had a chance to say goodbye to the three rescue workers and one patient who died.

Much can be said about the inhumanity of state elected leaders who would use such a tragedy for political expediency; however, for those who have observed Maryland politics for many decades, there is very little that can surprise any longer.

We live in a state with a national reputation for politicizing everything from algae to windmills – with all the accompanying mediocrity that is associated with the enormous egos of politicians who are rarely held accountable for their mendacious, meddlesome behavior.

Ever since Maryland modeled its Medevac rescue system from the lessons learned on the battlefields of the Vietnam War, it has been copied all over the world with varying success, although arguably, the Maryland system remains the premier service.

Read my entire column here: The Future of Maryland Medevac

Meanwhile, Dr. Scalea wrote…

In the aftermath of the Maryland State Police Medevac helicopter crash, some have called the use of helicopter transports to bring critically injured patients to trauma centers into question.

As the Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, I have a particular perspective. Residents of Carroll County, where trauma patients are generally evacuated to trauma centers in Baltimore, also have a real stake in this discussion.

[…]

Trauma professionals across the state are determined that this recent tragedy will have some positive outcome. We will embrace whatever lessons we can learn. We have a responsibility to assure the public that the Medivac fleet is equipped with the finest technology available and that our protocols are grounded in good science. Above all, we absolutely reject the notion that it is acceptable to let people die to save money. The public needs to know that the system is working, that it is safe, and that it remains the best in the nation and the world.

Thomas M. Scalea, MD, FACS, is Physician-in-Chief at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Francis X Kelly, Professor of Trauma Surgery and Director, Program in Trauma, University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Read Dr. Scalea’s entire piece here: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea

20081025 Carroll County Times Other Voices: Medevac system necessary By Thomas Scalea