From Aha moments to concrete improvements
- Seriously? Is it THAT cramped here?
Photo: Elin Åsbakk Lind
By: Elin Åsbakk Lind
The outbreak comes from one of the employees at the AMK centre (Acute Medical Communication Centre) at the University Hospital of Northern Norway, who is attending a professional day at the base of the Air Ambulance Service in Tromsø.
She has just boarded the propeller aircraft Beech B250, which is the workhorse of the service, along with other colleagues from MKA (Medical Coordination Air Ambulance) at UNN and flight coordinators in the Air Ambulance Service HF.
Photo: Elin Åsbakk Lind
Flight nurse Geir Joensen demonstrates the medical equipment available at the air ambulance base in Tromsø.
First Time
For some of those attending this professional day, it is the first time they get to see the important tools they work with every single day when they order and coordinate air ambulance missions for patients.
The propeller aircraft has a long range, high speed, and can land on all of the country’s short runways. It is packed with advanced medical equipment, but it is not particularly large.
In fact, the cabin height is only 140 cm, so the medical work that takes place on board is done with bent backs and deep squats.
- Loading the aircraft and providing treatment en route is, as you can see, challenging. But we manage it! said flight nurse Marit Nyhus.
Complex Operation
In the Air Ambulance Service, two very complex fields are combined: Prehospital emergency medicine and flight operations in all kinds of weather.
- It is an incredibly complex operation we perform together. Knowing each other's needs is absolutely crucial for us to carry out our important missions in the best possible way, said accountable manager Kent Antonsen at Avincis.
Photo: Elin Åsbakk Lind
Kent Antonsen at Avincis explained the complexities of winter operations with air ambulances.
There were many 'aha' moments during the professional day. Such as when Kent Antonsen explains how wings work by blowing on a piece of paper. Or how one works to hit the right weather windows in challenging weather situations.
From the small but efficient propeller aircraft, the group then moved into one of the service's two jets. The so-called EU jet is stationed in Tromsø and is there because Norway has entered into an agreement with the EU for the transport of patients with serious infectious diseases, as part of the rescEU scheme. When the jet is not used for this purpose, it is included in the national air ambulance preparedness, along with the other jet stationed at Gardermoen.
Photo: Elin Åsbakk Lind
Concrete Improvements
This is the first time a joint professional day has been arranged between MKA coordinators, flight coordinators, and flight operators, and it is being held over three days to ensure that all employees can attend.
Professional developer for MKA Janne Kristin Undheim went through psychiatric transport and the new arrangement with qualified companions, while the head of the Flight Coordination Centre, Trond-Bjørnar Pedersen, discussed the more specialised ambulance missions regulated by agreements with the EU, the Nordic Convention, and border agreements.
Photo: Elin Åsbakk Lind
It did not take many minutes before the participants at the professional day began discussing concrete improvements for the benefit of the patient.
- This day was incredibly useful! More of this was the recurring theme among the participants.
Photo: Elin Åsbakk Lind
- I would like to give a verbal bouquet to all the competent professionals who contribute to these professional days. Together we become better, says acting managing director Randi Spørck.