But one member of the panel said the state might find the conclusions difficult to handle. Several proposed changes will probably cost money. And re-examining the value of widespread helicopter use could be tricky in Maryland, where the integrated trauma system was essentially invented.
"I think when people go back and look at the recommendations, they're going to see that it's a significant change, not only in the system in Maryland but also in the culture," said Dr. Bryan E. Bledsoe, a Nevada emergency room physician and frequent critic of medical helicopter use. "And I think that's what needs to happen. You're talking about a very expensive technology with questionable benefit."
The panel called on Maryland to monitor the relationship between helicopter use and benefits for patients. Flights have dropped more than 50 percent in the seven weeks since the crash, with no discernible change in patient survival. Maryland should continue collecting data to see whether that trend continues, the report suggested.
Del. Dan K. Morhaim, an emergency physician who attended yesterday's briefing said money could be redirected to other medical needs if Maryland's medevac system can be smaller without affecting patient care.
"If there are fewer helicopters, we can spend more money on the other aspects of emergency medicine - supporting our career and volunteer fire companies, homeland security, things like that," said Morhaim, a Baltimore County Democrat. "Maybe we can spend some of that money to reduce the kind of problems that bring patients to emergency rooms and trauma centers in the first place."
Baltimore Sun reporter Gadi Dechter contributed to this article.
recommendations
The panel that reviewed medevac helicopter use in Maryland presented these recommendations:
* Reconsider whether Maryland needs 12 helicopters and eight bases. Several members called the fleet excessive.
* Adopt national accreditation guidelines mandating two health care providers on each flight, instead of the single paramedic used now.
* Monitor recent changes in triage to see if they continue to reduce the number of patients flown. Fewer patients can probably fly without affecting outcome.
* Comply with the same FAA standards as commercial helicopters.
