Member Robert Sumwalt is actively advocating for helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) safety.  Recently, he has written a number of articles on the subject, including two articles for Professional Pilot magazine and an OpEd piece for The State, South Carolina’s largest newspaper. 

“Advancing HEMS safety requires a multifaceted approach, including actively engaging the medical community in an educational effort,” Sumwalt said.

In November, Member Sumwalt spoke to the Trauma Center Association of America’s annual conference, communicating to hospital administrators and medical personnel the message that not all HEMS operators are created equally.  He emphasized that they can “up the ante” for HEMS safety by requiring a higher level of equipment and training from those operators who land on their helipads, whether carrying patients or hospital personnel. 

On January 13, 2011, Member Sumwalt and Bob Dodd will carry that message to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), when they meet with Administrator Donald Berwick to discuss the Board’s four safety recommendations to the agency – including that CMS evaluate its current HEMS reimbursement rate structure, and develop accreditation standards for HEMS operators participating in the Medicare program.