U.S. House Aviation Subcommittee Hearing
 
What: Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) President Sandy Kinkade has been asked to testify in an “Oversight of Helicopter Medical Services” hearing being held by the U.S. House of Representatives Aviation Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The hearing will address oversight issues, particularly as they relate to the safety of helicopter emergency medical services (EMS) operations.

Serving as part of an industry panel, Kinkade will offer a broad overview of the air-medical industry. A second regulatory panel will discuss oversight issues, and members of Congress sponsoring two competing bills designed to reform the industry – H.R. 1201 and H.R. 978 – will serve on a third panel.

Why: The House aviation subcommittee is interested in learning more about the oversight of helicopter EMS operations in order to better understand and evaluate the complex and often interrelated factors that contribute to safe operations.

To that end, AAMS is actively involved in and committed to improving safety in emergency medical services operations, and has launched a campaign aimed at bolstering public awareness of the important role that medevac helicopters play in the overall U.S. healthcare system. The association also continues to work closely with Congress and regulators to improve the EMS operating environment.
 
When: 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on April 22, 2009
 
Where: Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2167,

             Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street,

             Washington, DC  20003    

(Live webcast – http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearing.aspx?NewsID=875)

Who: Sandy Kinkade, RN, president, AAMS
 
Organizations providing testimony include:
·         Association of Air Medical Services
·         Helicopter Association International  (Matt Zuccaro, president)
·         Air Medical Operators Association (Craig Yale)
·         Patient First Air Medical Transport Alliance (Tom Judge)
·         Professional Helicopter Pilots Association
·         National Association of State EMS Officials
·         Commission on the Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (Eileen Frazer)
·         Safemedflight.org (Stacey Friedman, founder)
·         U.S. Department of Transportation
·         National Transportation Safety Board
·         Government Accountability Office
·         Federal Aviation Administration
 
Contacts:
Cindy Price – 202-297-2661 (cell – on site), Blair Beggan – 703-836-8732 (office)