Does an EMS pilot actually need to be medically trained??

[IjustWant2fly]

So here's my dilemma,

 

Just like everyone in this part of the forum, I want to become an EMS pilot. Now my question is: Does a pilot in the EMS industry need to have the same certification as the flight nurses? See, I've talked to some paramedics in my area (Pittsburgh) and I've done ride alongs in the ambulance. And when I asked them about Stat MedEvac and LifeFlight they told me everyone on board Stat MedEvac needed to be at EMT-P certified and for LifeFlight they needed to be a nurse. That seems a little confusing to me, because I don't see exactly how the pilot would be helping out. But I took their word for it, and now I'm undergoing training for my EMT-B. If worst comes to worst (and the pilots are just plain pilots) the class only cost me 75 bucks through my community college, and I've lost nothing by learning how to help others. I love the EMS industry, call me a wacker but I plan to stay in it because I love helping folks that can't help themselves. But I would much rather be helping people and flying at the same time, I think that'd be the most rewarding career path I could possibly choose. So if anyone with more experience than me could share their knowledge, it would help me so much, and would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance,

Dave M.

[AngelFire_91]

So here's my dilemma,

 

Just like everyone in this part of the forum, I want to become an EMS pilot. Now my question is: Does a pilot in the EMS industry need to have the same certification as the flight nurses? See, I've talked to some paramedics in my area (Pittsburgh) and I've done ride alongs in the ambulance. And when I asked them about Stat MedEvac and LifeFlight they told me everyone on board Stat MedEvac needed to be at EMT-P certified and for LifeFlight they needed to be a nurse. That seems a little confusing to me, because I don't see exactly how the pilot would be helping out. But I took their word for it, and now I'm undergoing training for my EMT-B. If worst comes to worst (and the pilots are just plain pilots) the class only cost me 75 bucks through my community college, and I've lost nothing by learning how to help others. I love the EMS industry, call me a wacker but I plan to stay in it because I love helping folks that can't help themselves. But I would much rather be helping people and flying at the same time, I think that'd be the most rewarding career path I could possibly choose. So if anyone with more experience than me could share their knowledge, it would help me so much, and would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you in advance,

Dave M.

 

Coming from a guy that is an EMT-P and used to be a FireFighter, HEMS is the direction I'm headed in also. From what I understand, the pilots do not need any medical training. An understanding of medical terms and procedures is good to know, but not required. From what I've heard some companies prefer you not to have medical training, because your job is a pilot, not a paramedic, and they don't want you trying to perform medical tasks and fly at the same time. Now that's from what I've heard. What I know is, our Flight for Life pilots when I worked on the department were all at least First responders, with a Nurse and Paramedic on board to handle the medical stuff. Another helicopter outfit I know, some guys are not anything medical, and strictly Pilots.

 

So take your pick. Will EMT help or hurt? the answer is maybe. Now that's from what I understand and have heard or known. So take it for what it's worth.

[Gomer Pylot]

As a pilot, there is no need whatsoever for any medical certification or training. Some operators refuse to hire pilots with medical training, because it can cause problems. I get no information on patient condition, other than what I hear on the intercom, and from the initial call, which is for the med crew to get some preparation. I don't care, and don't really want to know, about the patient's medical condition. I can't do anything for them anyway - I fly the helicopter, and the med crew takes care of them. I think your conversations had some misunderstanding. Everyone on the helicopter is either a nurse, a medic, or a pilot. Medical training is only for the med crews.

[nsdqjr]

We have a pilot that used to be an EMT and the Med Crews absolutely hate flying with them. Personally, I don't know a single thing about the medical side and I don't care. You're either flying or treating a patient, but you can't do both.

[Wally]

Short answer is, no- most programs don't care if you're medical or not. In reality, if the job you want requires it, then you need it. I'm surprised to hear any operator would want their pilots in the medical loop, much less require it. It's hard to keep the flying decisions objective when you're involved medically. It can get real hard to keep the patient's emergency from becoming yours.

 

So far, three considerations seem to get me by:

Any altitude restrictions?;

Do the medics want me to insist on "Lifeguard" right of way? vs an extra minute to avoid a high volume traffic area;

And, I watch and listen to the crew. If they start working hard, I keep careful track of the nearest hospitals and pads as the flight proceeds.

[Gomer Pylot]

I know of at least one accident which was apparently caused by the medically trained pilot trying to assist the med crew, giving treatment advice, and not attending to the flying. He flew it into the ground at cruise speed in the dark.

[delorean]

I know of at least one accident which was apparently caused by the medically trained pilot trying to assist the med crew, giving treatment advice, and not attending to the flying. He flew it into the ground at cruise speed in the dark.

 

The pilot you speak wasn't just medically trained, he was employed as a pilot AND as a nurse at the same time. One day he'd be in the back of the helicopter, the next day in the front.

 

TO THE ORIGINAL POSTER.....to get back to your initial question, the reason the company says that everyone needs to have at least a paramedic or a nurse is because of PR and money. If they have a ride along program open to EVERYONE, they'll have list a mile long of people just joy riding. When they require you to have certifications, they cut out the joy riders and focus on the people who are going to make the call to use their services ---> $$$$$$......get it? If you have a good time and know them, you're more likely to use them, right? It also has to do with insurance. Giving rides to the general public carries a lot more liability than a person who signs up for an educational ride along (kind of a 1-day internship.)

 

We don't do ride alongs; not because we don't want to, because we can't. Only three seats and a stretcher. We will give 5-10 minute rides to the community though--EMS, Fire, city officials, raffle winners, etc. Our competitor down the street has a ride along program; you have to be a EMT-B or better.

[HeliZach]

You mentioned STATMEDEVAC in your initial question.... I actually did a couple ride-alongs with them. according to their website, if you work in any medical field, you can get a ride along. I am only security at a local hospital and I was lucky enough to get a couple rides. On one ride, we picked up a patient at my hospital for transfer to another. They were over-weight and left me there. I couldn't believe it, but they actually came back and picked me up. While waiting for their return, it was awesome hanging out in the ER with a statmedevac helmet, answering all the helicopter questions that came my way.

[NorCalHeliKid]

The only EMS pilot I know happens to also be a paramedic. His opinion is that his being a paramedic was not a requirement but it seperated him in a stack of resumes for the same EMS job. Basically, it will never hurt to be medically trained, even if you will never use it. Personally, I am medically trained so I may be a little biased, but it will never look bad should I ever want to go the EMS route, which I dont... more x-box than flight time.

[delorean]

The only EMS pilot I know happens to also be a paramedic. His opinion is that his being a paramedic was not a requirement but it seperated him in a stack of resumes for the same EMS job. Basically, it will never hurt to be medically trained, even if you will never use it. Personally, I am medically trained so I may be a little biased, but it will never look bad should I ever want to go the EMS route, which I dont... more x-box than flight time.

 

On the other hand, with some EMS companies, that is something that will KEEP you from getting the job over someone else. They don't want you knowing anything about what's happening in the back of the helicopter. The "stack of resumes" doesn't really exist right now in EMS, so I doubt anyone would get black-balled based off that kind of thing.

[flyingseapig]

Not to beat a dead horse, but at an interview for an EMS company I was told that the pilots were intentionally left out of the loop of the patients condition just for that one reason, they don't want the pilot to push the limits to save the life of the patient. In other words they don't want the pilot to risk the lives of the aircrew on board to save the patients life. Therefore any EMS training was not required and also almost a drawback for an interviewing pilot. They hire pilots as pilots and want flying their sole responsibility and don't want them involved in the medical treatments or goings on in the back.

[e145]

Most if not all EMS operators could care less if their pilots are medically trained. In fact, I'll go as far to say that most would prefer that their pilots had no medical training.

 

The pilots are there to safely operate the helicopter and becoming involved on the medical side of an incident would put the helicopter, crew, and persons on the ground at risk.

[MRC241]

Not to beat a dead horse, but at an interview for an EMS company I was told that the pilots were intentionally left out of the loop of the patients condition just for that one reason, they don't want the pilot to push the limits to save the life of the patient. In other words they don't want the pilot to risk the lives of the aircrew on board to save the patients life. Therefore any EMS training was not required and also almost a drawback for an interviewing pilot. They hire pilots as pilots and want flying their sole responsibility and don't want them involved in the medical treatments or goings on in the back.

 

Also, I would imagine they don't want you making a decision to take the flight based on the nature of the injury or the gender, age, ect. Your safety and the safety of your crew is more important than getting a patient to a higher level of care faster.

[hdblue]

Also, I would imagine they don't want you making a decision to take the flight based on the nature of the injury or the gender, age, ect. Your safety and the safety of your crew is more important than getting a patient to a higher level of care faster.

 

Hi,

 

Thanks very much for this comment. It help me to think about my ideals.

 

 

Tks again and pls keep posting.

[SeahawkDriver-B2S]

I'll tell ya what, when I sat down for my interview, the guy was vet pleased to hear that I got a start in the EMS side being a volunteer fire/medic while I was in college. Now that was over a decade ago and I have not done 1 ounce of patient care since.

 

There are good points on both sides of the argument. It COULD be a major distraction and safety issue if its Johnny-medic straight out of a 12 year stint on an ALS gut box who finally got his dream job flying choppers. That is an extreme of course, but it's what the discussion point is rooted in. On the other hand, not being able to speak the most basic language of the medical industry could potentially alienate you from your crew, again an anecdotal position- and not having some very useful cross training in the industry certainly will never help you. Moving into areas like management and administration might also include diversification. One trick ponies RARELY ever get to be the boss man, they keep doing their one trick well until they are put out to pasture.

 

I think you should endeavor to always learn and broaden your knowledge no matter what. Understand where conflicts of interest where safety of flight, human factors, and CRM come into play, and use your common sense and experience to deliberately mitigate risks. Highlight your EMS cross training on a résumé as a secondary or tertiary expertise, and be able to speak well to it.

[Velocity173]

My job isn't to assist the crew in patient care, it's to get the patient to the hospital in the fastest means possible.

I do try and pick up on the medical vernacular though. It's shows that I care about what they do in the back. Some of the crews show interest in aviation matters up front as well. Just allows for a more tightly knit crew.

Edited June 20, 2014 by Velocity173