Report Title:

Emergency Medical Services; Aeromedical Helicopter

Description:

Appropriates funds for DOH to contract with a government agency, U.S. military branch, or private entity to provide intra-island only aeromedical roto-wing services for rural Oahu. Requires matching county funds. Appropriates $     to Hawaii county for dedicated emergency medical service personnel to staff the aeromedical helicopter unit. (SD2)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3146

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

  

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

Part I

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the United States Army's 68th Medical Company's Medical Assistance to Safety and Traffic helicopters have served Hawaii for the past thirty-one years. These military aeromedical helicopters have transported over seven thousand patients and saved countless lives by transporting patients from rural areas, particularly in West Oahu and the North Shore of Oahu to tertiary hospitals. Located at Wheeler Army Air Field, the aeromedical helicopters provide a vital service at no cost to rural Oahu.

However, the legislature also finds that due to the increased military activity in Afghanistan, Somalia, and Iraq, the aeromedical helicopters may soon be deployed to those areas, leaving rural Oahu residents without aeromedical services. The legislature believes that providing intra-island aeromedical services to rural Oahu is necessary for the health and safety of residents and therefore is a matter of statewide concern.

It is not the intent of this Act to supplant existing ground or fixed-wing transport, especially for routine or non-emergency inter-facility transportation. The aeromedical helicopter unit would utilize triage protocols to ensure the medically appropriate dispatch of the unit. Helicopter utilization would be based on national aeromedical triage and transport guidelines as established by the Association of Air Medical Services, the American College of Surgeons, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds to provide intra-island only aeromedical services to rural Oahu.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $      , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for a purchase of services pursuant to chapter 103F, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to the director of health to contract with an existing government agency, United States military unit, or a private entity to provide intra-island only roto-wing aeromedical services for rural Oahu; provided that the emergency aeromedical helicopter services:

(1) Shall not supplant existing ground or fixed-wing transport, especially for routine or non-emergency inter-facility transportation; and

(2) Shall use triage protocols that are based on national aeromedical, triage, and transport guidelines established by the Association of Air Medical Services, the American college of Surgeons, and the National Association of Emergency Medical Services Physicians;

provided that the appropriated amount shall be matched by the city and county of Honolulu.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this part.

Part II

SECTION 4. The legislature finds that the current practice of staffing the aeromedical helicopter on the island of Hawaii by utilizing ground ambulance personnel reduces operational effectiveness and safety by:

(1) Reducing the number of available ground ambulance units assessed and deemed necessary to effectively serve a given community or geographic area. The current practice of utilizing the South Kohala ambulance unit as the primary coverage unit and Waikoloa as the secondary coverage unit has a direct impact on ambulance service delivery to residents and visitors of those respective communities. Although this same impact may be experienced with daily emergency medical services operations, it would be minimized through the use of a dedicated aeromedical crew;

(2) Extending the out-of-service time for the respective ground ambulance units involved in the mission through the staffing of the helicopter;

(3) Reducing quality and effective patient care through the use of personnel unfamiliar or less familiar with the equipment and operations of the helicopter unit. This includes, but is not limited to: flight physiology, patient loading and extrication, specialized treatment modalities and practices, space and altitude limitations, and aircraft performance limitations;

(4) Utilizing personnel unfamiliar with or less familiar with the equipment and operations of the helicopter unit. This includes, but is not limited to: radio and communications equipment, aircraft lighting, compartment latch and security mechanisms, emergency evacuation and shut-down procedures, flight following, and scene operations and safety;

(5) Utilizing personnel uncomfortable with or psychologically and physiologically affected by helicopter flight and operations;

(6) Utilizing personnel who may have physical characteristics such as height and weight that limit performance or operations; and

(7) Operating with limited availability of personal protective equipment such as flight suits and helmets.

The purpose of this part is to appropriate funds for the reestablishment of dedicated emergency medical service personnel to staff the aeromedical helicopter unit on the island of Hawaii, which will maximize operational effectiveness and operational safety.

SECTION 5. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, as a grant-in-aid to the county of Hawaii for dedicated emergency medical service personnel to staff the aeromedical helicopter unit on the island of Hawaii; provided that the appropriated amount shall be matched by the county of Hawaii.

SECTION 6. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the county of Hawaii for the purposes of this part.

Part III

SECTION 7. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.