Carilion Clinic receives second grant from MedEvac Foundation International
ROANOKE, Va. (Aug. 19, 2010) – Carilion Clinic Patient Transportation (CCPT) received a grant from MedEvac Foundation International to study helicopter utilization and educate emergency medical services (EMS) agencies on how to best utilize medical helicopters. This is the first study of its kind in the nation.

At a conference in February 2009, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified helicopter utilization as an area of concern. According to the NTSB, medical helicopters are a scarce resource and should be used for patients that need the speed or critical care that can only be provided by the helicopter’s medical crew.

“After we listened to the NTSB conference, the Life-Guard team decided to study this on a national level. We want to see how helicopters are being used and create an educational program to improve utilization,” explains Susan Smith, project coordinator for the grant...