Large-Scale Air Medical Operations in the Age of Coronavirus Disease 2019: Early Leadership Lessons From the Front Lines of British Columbia

Air Med J. 2020 Sep-Oct;39(5):340-342. doi: 10.1016/j.amj.2020.04.015. Epub 2020 May 7.

Abstract

In late 2019, a novel coronavirus was identified as the cause of a cluster of atypical pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. It subsequently spread throughout China and around the world, quickly becoming a public health emergency. In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease 2019 a pandemic. This article explores the preparation and early experiences of a large Canadian critical care transport program during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic focused on 6 broad strategic objectives centered around staff welfare, regular and transparent communication, networking, evidenced-based approach to personal protective equipment, agile mission planning, and an expedited approach to clinical practice and policy updates and future state modeling.

MeSH terms

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Air Ambulances
  • Ambulances
  • Betacoronavirus
  • British Columbia
  • COVID-19
  • Communication*
  • Coronavirus Infections*
  • Critical Care / organization & administration*
  • Evidence-Based Practice
  • Humans
  • Information Dissemination*
  • Leadership*
  • Pandemics*
  • Patient Transfer / organization & administration*
  • Personal Protective Equipment / supply & distribution
  • Pneumonia, Viral*
  • Resilience, Psychological
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Transportation of Patients / organization & administration*