The Most Critical of Care

     The International Association of Flight Paramedics (IAFP), formerly the National Flight Paramedic Association (NFPA), established in 1986, is one of the largest independent paramedic associations serving local, national and international professionals. We are dedicated to providing advocacy, leadership development and educational opportunities for critical care paramedics. The IAFP represents critical care paramedics within industry venues such as the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), the Air Medical Safety Advisory Council (AMSAC) and the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). The IAFP voices the concerns of advanced practice paramedics on local and national EMS issues, including the national EMS Scope of Practice, National Incident Management System (NIMS) credentialing and a variety of critical care standards and statutes in an effort to strengthen and unite all critical caregivers to enhance safe, efficient and quality patient care. IAFP members also promote local and regional advocacy and support through a State Delegate Program and our Government & Legislative Affairs Committee which works with constituents in the EMS industry like Advocates for EMS (AEMS). Finally, the IAFP is formally developing a research committee to work in the areas of education, clinical standards and safety for 2009.

     The recent NTSB hearings provided an excellent opportunity for close examination of our industry practices. Along with IAFP Vice President Jason Hums, I attended the four-day public hearing and participated on a panel discussion that provided testimony in the areas of flight safety, crew resource management, training and fatigue. The IAFP statement submitted to the NTSB addresses safety concerns of our members, especially in light of last year's air medical crashes. As a result of heightened safety concerns, the IAFP utilized a nonrandomized descriptive survey of our members, which we believe reflects the perceptions and attitudes of our membership and provides important insight to the thoughts of active participants in daily air medical transport. The NTSB initial witness selection process and participation panel development was a daunting task. The IAFP is grateful to the NTSB for the opportunity to articulate the opinions and concerns of our members. For a copy of our statement, visit the IAFP website at www.FlightParamedic.org.

     In addition to the NTSB hearings, another important project was the critical care paramedic survey facilitated by Creighton University. The data collected from this survey will be used as a basis for a critical care role delineation study and development of critical care education standards. The IAFP has completed an electronic version of review questions for the FP-C exam. The review is available on the CentreLearn website and can be accessed through the IAFP website. The IAFP is also in the final phases of publishing a revised critical care paramedic review manual that will help experienced critical care paramedics prepare for rigorous certification exams.

     The IAFP has been working to create a universal standard for critical care paramedics and was instrumental in the initial development of the Certified Flight Paramedic (FP-C) exam. The exam, administered by the Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification (BCCTPC), tests the advanced skill level of the paramedic and validates the candidate's mastery of current standards and practices in air critical care transport medicine. It provides the highest paramedic credential available. Information on the FP-C exam can be obtained at www.CertifiedFlightParamedic.org.

     The IAFP will host its annual Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference in San Antonio, TX, April 5–8, which will feature an expanded critical care advanced skills lab on April 5 at the University of Texas Health Science Center. This will include surgical airways, chest tubes, central lines, ventilators and i-STAT point of care monitoring. More information can be found at www.flightparamedic.org/cctmc.htm.

     IAFP membership is available to individuals engaged or interested in providing air and ground critical care patient transport. In addition to the aforementioned programs and services, members are also entitled to a one-year subscription to the Air Medical Journal; four issues of the IAFP newsletter, FPNews; discounted online learning subscriptions with CentreLearn; discounted registration for CCTMC, AMTC, the FP-C exam, CFRN exam and TNATC. Membership is available through our website at www.FlightParamedic.org.

     James P. Riley has worked in EMS for 14 years, and is employed by Mayo Clinic Medical Transport of Rochester, MN. He is the current chair of the IAFP Government & Legislative Affairs Committee and serves as the IAFP liaison to AEMS.