Wichita, Kan., July 7, 2014 – EagleMed LLC has entered Level 3 of the Federal Aviation Administration’s voluntary Safety Management System (SMS), reflecting the company’s unwavering commitment to safety.
The critical care air medical transport company initiated its participation in the government-designed safety program several years ago. In adopting SMS as a higher standard for safety in the air medical transportation industry, EagleMed is able to improve the wellbeing of patients, crewmembers and the organization as a whole.
“This achievement is yet another milestone in our continuous quest for quality and safety improvement and it represents our enduring commitment to our employees and the patients we serve,” said EagleMed President Larry Bugg.
"Safety is our core value and the fundamental underpinning for everything we do. Therefore, we are committed to every practice and principle of SMS and are determined to achieve SMS Level 4 status, which represents the pinnacle of aviation safety."
Further reinforcing the company's commitment to safety, it has engaged Baldwin Safety & Compliance as an added resource to bolster EagleMed's dynamic SMS. Baldwin Safety & Compliance, headquartered in South Carolina, is a recognized leader in customized safety management and business solutions.
Designed and enacted by the FAA in 2010, the SMS program provides a hierarchical framework to systematically guide, assess, and recognize the efficacy of augmented safety practices put into effect by commercial air operators. The system allows companies willing to work with the FAA the opportunity to help shape the safety policies they operate under, which can be tailored to a company’s specific needs.
EagleMed’s implementation of the FAA’s SMS at Level 3 is a fully functioning proactive process that applies a rigid framework to the initial design of systems, processes, organizations and products, and to the development of operational procedures and planned changes to operational processes.
The activities involved in the SMS process comprise careful analysis of systems and tasks involved, identification of potential hazards in these functions and the development of risk controls. The risk management process previously developed at Level 2 is used to analyze, document and track these activities. At this level, EagleMed has implemented these proactive processes.
Safety Focus
EagleMed is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS), which is the gold standard for patient care and safety across the operational spectrum of air medical transport services. EagleMed is one of only two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 charter certificate holders in the FAA Central Region to enter Safety Management System (SMS) Level 3. Additionally, EagleMed received the ARGUS International, Inc. Gold Rating based on pilot qualifications and a comprehensive on-site safety audit of its aviation and maintenance operations.
EagleMed’s senior aviation, maintenance, and safety leadership has a combined total of more than 150 years of aviation operational experience. Recognized as a leader in the industry, the organization and its employees received the 2013 Chairman’s Award and the 2010 President’s Award for Leadership and Safety from the Association of Air Medical Services. EagleMed also received the 2011 Safety Award from the Helicopter Association International, Best Practice in Just Culture from CAMTS; and the 2012 Pilot of the Year Award from the National EMS Pilots Association.
EagleMed leverages technology through its web-based Learning Management System and IS-BAO registered Baldwin SMSlite™ system to deliver regulatory, aircraft-specific, air medical resource management, SMS, risk management, just culture, threat and error management, OSHA safety compliance training and safety report data tracking and analysis. EagleMed maintains a technologically advanced Communications Center with satellite tracking/communications for 24/7 oversight and medical direction provided by a cadre of emergency physicians and highly trained communication staff that are certified emergency medical technicians.
Advanced Training
EagleMed’s experienced and proficient team of commercial instrument rated rotor and Airline Transport Pilot rated fixed wing pilots undergo extensive hands-on training every six months to include FlightSafety International simulation training. EagleMed’s expert staff of critical care paramedics and Certified Flight Registered Nurses has advanced training in pediatric and adult care and utilize METIman Human Patient Simulators (adult, pediatric and infant) to maintain the highest level of competency and proficiency.
About EagleMed LLC
EagleMed LLC, headquartered in Wichita, Kan., is a privately owned and operated critical care air medical and ground transport service. A subsidiary of Air Medical Group Holdings, Inc., EagleMed has provided safe, world-class patient care to patients and communities in the Midwest for more than 30 years. EagleMed has more than 400 highly trained employees and operates an extensive fleet of 14 medically equipped Eurocopter AS350 B2/B3 helicopters, 20 Beechcraft King Air fixed-wing aircraft, and six ground ambulances in 12 States. For more information please visit flyeaglemed.com.
About AirMedCare
EagleMed is a membership-supported air ambulance service that is part of the AirMedCare Network. AirMedCare is America’s largest air medical transport membership network, providing emergency access to the highest levels of care for its 1.6 million subscribers. The AirMedCare Network combines the membership programs of four leading air ambulance operators: EagleMed, REACH, Air Evac Lifeteam and Med-Trans Corporation. For more information about memberships, visit joineaglemed.com.
