Flight Medicine

[oudoc08]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

In addition to EM, I have a strong interest in aviation, as well as having been a paramedic x 7 yrs prior to med school. I am particularly interested in aeromedical care. I know that often times, the fixed wing air ambulance services often have EP's in addition to flight RN's and paramedics, available to care for patients of various acuity levels on long flights.
What additional training or opportunities should I be investigating in order to do something like this perhaps part-time after residency? Also, are there any residencies which specifically include such opportunities in their programs?

 

[woodzy]

The MSU/GRMERC in Grand Rapids allows third year residents to moonlight as flight physicians on Aeromed, one of the few programs in the country that have a full time physician as part of the flight crew. We trained yesterday and it seems like a great opportunity.

 

[beanbean]

UMASS EM residents fly with their helicopter service.

I am also interested in aeromedicine have done some some research with the Lifestar program here in Hartford. I am presenting at the Aeromed 2005 congress in Barcelona next week....can't wait! I'll let you know if I find out any info on US or international opportunities.

 

[TysonCook]

At Cincinnati PGY-2 do a year of flight med as well. Riding on the helo's to the site.

 

[FoughtFyr]

In addition to EM, I have a strong interest in aviation, as well as having been a paramedic x 7 yrs prior to med school. I am particularly interested in aeromedical care. I know that often times, the fixed wing air ambulance services often have EP's in addition to flight RN's and paramedics, available to care for patients of various acuity levels on long flights.
What additional training or opportunities should I be investigating in order to do something like this perhaps part-time after residency? Also, are there any residencies which specifically include such opportunities in their programs?

One way to pursue a career in aerospece would be to do a residency in Aerospace Medicine (a sub-board of prev. med.) such as the one at Wright State: http://www.med.wright.edu/asm/res/r.htm

More realistically, you will look for a residency that will let you fly. There are three (basic) ways that residencies set up flight:

1. The residents fly as a member of the crew at their home institution's helicopter. These programs come in three flavors. Either there is always a resident on every flight or there is a physician on every flight, but they might be a resident moonlighting from another program or a non-resident physician or the flight crew composition may vary and not always include a physician. Programs that have these set ups include St. Vincent's, Cincinnati, Mayo, and Case Western (among others).

2. The residents fly as part of the flight crew on a scheduled resident rotation or as moonlighters at other programs. This is definately a subtle difference from #1. Akron General (and others) are set up this way.

3. The residents fly as observers. While it is true that if a crew "trusts you" you will be allowed to help out, you are dead weight, so if someone is going to be left on the scene to make liftoff weight you are hitching a ride. Similarly, if you disagree with the treatment, have a crew chief in a bad mood, etc., you won't be doing much. I know this sounds harsh, and is probably an overstatement, but I think that the best part of flight is the chance to be somewhat "on your own" in terms of dx and management. I don't know that the observer role does this as effectively.

When I was applying, I found that several programs that touted "flight" in fact had observation flights. So I learned to ask. You should decide the set up you are looking and specifically ask during the application process.

- H

 

[quideam]

Does U Chicago's residency fall into category #1? From what i've read on this site, it seems that their residents get to fly during their 2nd and 3rd years. Does anyone have any specific information about this?

Thanks!

 

[WilcoWorld]

MCW, aka M Cow, aka The Medical College of Wisconsin has flight shifts for their residents. The residents can also take extra shifts for the flight service and make something like $700/night (I'm not sure about that figure, please correct me if I'm wrong) just for being available for any flights that come up.

On a loosely related note, MCW seemed like a great program that remains relatively unknown. I didn't choose to go there, because I wanted to stay in Chicago, but I highly recommend cheking that program out.

 

[southerndoc]

Hartford Hospital/Univ of Connecticut offers a one-year fellowship in aeromedical transport.

A link is available here: http://resprog.uchc.edu/md/emergency/emsfells.html

 

[mikecwru]

Case Western always includes a physician and a flight nurse, no paramedics, never varies. The Lifeflight program is extremely busy.

mike

One way to pursue a career in aerospece would be to do a residency in Aerospace Medicine (a sub-board of prev. med.) such as the one at Wright State: http://www.med.wright.edu/asm/res/r.htm

More realistically, you will look for a residency that will let you fly. There are three (basic) ways that residencies set up flight:

1. The residents fly as a member of the crew at their home institution's helicopter. These programs come in three flavors. Either there is always a resident on every flight or there is a physician on every flight, but they might be a resident moonlighting from another program or a non-resident physician or the flight crew composition may vary and not always include a physician. Programs that have these set ups include St. Vincent's, Cincinnati, Mayo, and Case Western (among others).

2. The residents fly as part of the flight crew on a scheduled resident rotation or as moonlighters at other programs. This is definately a subtle difference from #1. Akron General (and others) are set up this way.

3. The residents fly as observers. While it is true that if a crew "trusts you" you will be allowed to help out, you are dead weight, so if someone is going to be left on the scene to make liftoff weight you are hitching a ride. Similarly, if you disagree with the treatment, have a crew chief in a bad mood, etc., you won't be doing much. I know this sounds harsh, and is probably an overstatement, but I think that the best part of flight is the chance to be somewhat "on your own" in terms of dx and management. I don't know that the observer role does this as effectively.

When I was applying, I found that several programs that touted "flight" in fact had observation flights. So I learned to ask. You should decide the set up you are looking and specifically ask during the application process.

- H

 

[docrjay]

Are Aerospace Medicine graduates also qualified as flight physicians?
What are job prospects for ASM graduates in the civilian sector.

I went over the APCM website and I noticed majority of them work in government research centers (NASA). What about other oppurtunities, like are they qualified to do urgent care...flight physician duties etc.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Really would love to do ASM because of my fascination in aviation since I was a kid.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

 

[endo]

This is just to clarify for Cincinnati's flight program -- a resident is on every flight and makes all of the decisions regarding patient management. You start flying as a PGY2. While on shift in the ED you fly on the 2nd helicopter, averaging 0.5 flights every shift. All PGY2-4's also have "H" shifts, where you spend the day basically taking flights. So it's actually 3 years of flying.

 

[FoughtFyr]

To everyone "clarifying" and for the PMs I got, I was only trying to describe the general ways flight programs are set up. So here is the disclaimer:

"The examples from my earlier list are in no way to be taken as a complete list of residencies that have flight programs. The post was designed to give applicants some idea of the various systems in place so they may ask appropriate questions to find the residency program for them."

Thank you. 👍

- H