EagleMed reaches FAA SMS Level Two

EagleMed reaches FAA SMS Level Two

1-Aug-2013 Source: EagleMed

EagleMed LLC has entered the second level of the voluntary Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Management System (SMS), demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to advancements in safety.

The critical care air medical transport company began working with the FAA on the process more than 18 months ago. By adopting SMS as a higher standard for safety in air medical transport services, EagleMed is working to enhance the wellbeing of patients and EagleMed crew members.

The SMS program, created and implemented by the FAA in 2010, provides an organizational framework to systematically guide, track and provide recognition to augmented safety practices by commercial air operators. The effort offers companies the opportunity to work with the FAA to determine safety policies, procedures and practices that can be tailored for a company’s individual needs.

Under SMS Level 2, EagleMed will work with the FAA to refine the existing Safety Risk Management process, which will further improve safety management methods and operational techniques across the entire spectrum of company operations.

Leading Company

SMS is becoming the international aviation industry standard and the next step in the evolution of aviation safety. “At the forefront of implementing this benchmark program, EagleMed is part of an elite minority in the country validated by the FAA to achieve SMS Level 2 Status,” said EagleMed President Larry Bugg.

“Safety is our core value and the fundamental underpinning for everything we do; therefore, we are committed to every practice and principle of SMS and are determined to achieve SMS Level 4 Status.”

According to the SMS Implementation Support Team (IST) Newsletter, “EagleMed’s achievement is in large part due to company president Larry Bugg and Director of Safety Lance Hofmann’s commitment to SMS and the hard work, dedication, and leadership of their implementation team.”

Within the FAA Central Region, EagleMed is one of only two FAA Part 135 charter certificate holders implementing the rigorous, five-phase SMS safety discipline. The FAA conducted EagleMed’s Level 1 validation meeting on June 26, 2013 and the company is planning to exit Level 2 by the end of the year on its way to pursuing all levels of the system.

State-of-the-Art Equipment and Safety Focus

EagleMed maintains a fully staffed, technologically advanced, 24-hour communications center in Wichita. The company operates state-of-the-art aircraft equipment and modern, up-to-date clinical equipment. Every rotary wing crew member is equipped with night vision goggles, which are the most proactive safety technology in the industry for night flight.

Pilots and staff at EagleMed undergo extensive aviation and rigorous safety training. EagleMed medical crews consist of a registered nurse and a paramedic with advanced clinical certifications. EagleMed’s clinical staff maintains the highest level of continuing education and competencies.

EagleMed’s senior leadership has a combined 150 years of aviation safety experience. The company’s employees received the 2010 President’s Award for safety from the Association of Air Medical Services, the 2011 Safety Award from the Helicopter Association International, recognized by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) for a Best Practice in Just Culture, and the 2012 Pilot of the Year Award from the National EMS Pilots Association.

About EagleMed

With 28 locations in 10 states, EagleMed operates a fleet of 15 medically equipped Eurocopter AS350 helicopters and 15 Beechcraft King Air fixed-wing aircraft and has more than 400 highly trained employees. EagleMed is accredited by CAMTS and dedicates all facets of the company towards providing the highest quality patient care in the safest environment possible. For more information about EagleMed, go to flyeaglemed.com.

About AirMedCare

EagleMed is a membership-supported air ambulance service that is part of the AirMedCare Network. AirMedCare is America’s largest air medical membership network, providing the highest levels of care and access for its 1.5 million members. The AirMedCare Network combines the membership programs of four leading air ambulance operators: EagleMed, REACH, Air Evac Lifeteam and Med-Trans Corporation. For more information about memberships, visit joineaglemed.com.

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