Air Medical Curricula in Emergency Medicine Residencies: A National Survey

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if a common air medical curriculum exists among Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) emergency medicine (EM) residencies.

Methods: Institutional review board exemption was obtained. A cross-sectional survey study design was used. All ACGME-approved EM residencies as of February 2013 were identified, and the program directors were e-mailed a 3-question survey. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each response, and a response bias analysis was completed.

Results: All 160 ACGME EM residencies were contacted by e-mail. One hundred six (66%) programs responded. Sixty-nine (65%) of the respondents offered an air medical experience. Only 25 of the 69 (36%) stated that they had a formal air medical curriculum, and 15 programs provided a copy of their curriculum. Protocol education was present in 80% of programs. Safety training was present in 60% of the programs. Financial education was present in 7% of programs. There was no statistically significant difference between responders and nonresponders except for residency class size.

Conclusion: After 30 years of published articles and position statements calling for standardized air medical resident crew member training, there is still no standardized training program among emergency medicine residencies.