Four medevac transport research and education projects – examining topics that include the study of fatigue in medical helicopter crew members, crisis resources in medical transport, building an online air-medical transport curriculum, and appropriate utilization in response to medevac helicopter trauma-scene requests – have been awarded grant funding totaling $73,458 by MedEvac Foundation International for 2010.

“The 2010 grant projects selected have the potential to make important contributions to the safety of medevac transport, which is a key goal of the Foundation,” said MedEvac Foundation International Chair Kevin Hutton, MD, FACEP. “The funded proposals apply an innovative collection of approaches to help resolve critical, real-time challenges in medevac transport while also advancing patient care.”

The 2010 research and education grant projects selected include :
· A Retrospective Data Review Comparing the Clinical Performance of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Crew Members that Work 12- vs. 24-Hour Shifts
James Mimms, NREMT- Lifeline Critical Care Transport

· Crisis Resources in Transport: An Inter-Professional Simulation-Based Team Training Initiative
Christopher Denny, MD – Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center

· The Development of an On-Line Curriculum on Air Medical Transport
Kenneth Robinson, MD – LIFESTAR

· Project Synergy: The Effect of an Educational Program on Appropriate HEMS Utilization for Trauma Patients Flown from the Scene
Susan Smith, RN – Carilion Clinic Life-Guard

The projects selected for grant funding were chosen from among 13 research and education project submissions, and bring to 49 the total research and education grant projects funded by MedEvac Foundation International since 2005. A full list of research and education grants, including completed projects and those that are still in progress, is available at www.medevacfoundation.org.

“The Foundation is thrilled to play a major role in supporting these initiatives, which we are confident will go a long way in ensuring continued safety and quality of patient care, as well as optimal outcomes in emergency medical services transport across the United States,” said Dr. Hutton.

About MedEvac Foundation International
The MedEvac Foundation International is the first organization of its kind to engage, mobilize and empower people and organizations to make a difference in medical transport worldwide. Through research, education, outreach, and charitable services, we seek to improve the safety, quality and delivery of medical transportation for patients everywhere.