Alexandria, VA – Opportunities for improving medical helicopter safety, traumatic brain injury (TBI) awareness and support, and a look at regulatory issues affecting helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are among the topics of this year’s Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC), the largest gathering of its kind in the nation.
More than 2,000 air medical transport professionals from across the globe will gather in San Jose, Calif., Oct. 26-28 for this year’s event. AMTC offers 150-plus education sessions covering topics in a variety of disciplines including safety, core clinical, specialty clinical, management, aviation, research, and communications. In addition, AMTC features an annual Scientific Assembly and an exposition hall where more than 150 companies will display products and services related to air and critical care ground medicine.
The conference’s opening session on Monday, Oct. 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., will feature a keynote speech regarding TBI awareness by Lee Woodruff, wife of ABC News anchor Bob Woodruff and the Life and Family contributor for ABC’s Good Morning America. Ms. Woodruff is on the board of the Bob Woodruff Family Foundation, a not-for-profit that provides resources and support to injured service members, veterans and their families, especially those affected by TBI and combat stress. Lee became involved with this cause after her husband suffered a TBI following a roadside bomb attack while on assignment in Iraq. In addition, two Chicago-area law enforcement officers who are TBI survivors will be available at the conference to relate their stories.
Another conference highlight will be an Oct. 27 keynote by Dr. Mark Rosekind, former director of the NASA Fatigue Countermeasures Program, who has gained international recognition for translating complex sleep and circadian (body clock) science into practical, effective strategies that enhance performance, safety and health.
Still other not-to-be-missed conference events include:
• a pre-conference aircraft fly-in on Saturday, Oct. 24;
• a Vision-Zero safety presentation by Ira Blumen, MD, FACEP, University of Chicago Medical Center, based on his nationally recognized research focusing on opportunities for safety improvement in HEMS;
• the annual AAMS “METI Cup” competition, sponsored by MedEvac Foundation International, in which competing teams practice and display their emergency patient-care skills on a state-of-the-art emergency-care patient simulator provided by Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI).
AMTC is a one-stop shop for access to representatives from myriad key aviation and health-care-related organizations. Organizers include the Association of Air Medical Services, the Air & Surface Transport Nurses Association, the Air Medical Physician Association, the International Association of Flight Paramedics, the National Association of Air Medical Communication Specialists, and the National EMS Pilots Association.
Members of the media can pre-register online at www.aams.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Media_Room or obtain credentials, arrange interviews and get conference news onsite at Booth 1801. For a complete list of sessions, see www.aams.org/Content/NavigationMenu/EducationMeetings/AMTC2009/default.htm.About AAMS - The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) is the only international trade association serving the entire air and ground medical transport community. AAMS strives to enhance the medical transport industry by promoting the highest level of industry safety; promoting quality patient care; inspiring commitment to the industry’s work, causes, and viability; and providing superior service to its members. For additional information, visit the AAMS’ web site at www.aams.org.
