Flight question

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Flightorbust

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So if you get a job as a flight medic or nurse are you required to hold certs in every state that you fly over? For instance if I'm based out of Colorado and I have to fly some one to Texas. Will my Colorado cert cover me or do I need one for Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas as well as any other states I fly above?
 
At least for our operation, we are covered under the licenses we have for our base of operations. Given that so far we've been to roughly 30 states, it would be impossible for us to maintain licenses everywhere especially for the nurses, PA-Cs and RTs due to the costs involved.
 
Typically it is the state your base is located in. Never had an issue crossing state lines in the air.
 
Flightorbust said:
ok thanks guys. I knew it would be expensive thats why I wondered.
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LOL EMS credentials are cheap. You should see what we get gouged for in some of the other professions.
 
usafmedic45 said:
LOL EMS credentials are cheap. You should see what we get gouged for in some of the other professions.
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Ultimately I want to do flight nursing so I would have to pay for my R.N. As well as my Paramedic. Having to pay for both in multiple states would kill me.
 
Ultimately I want to do flight nursing so I would have to pay for my R.N. As well as my Paramedic.
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....or you could just work fixed wing and maintain just the credential you are actually working under. ;)
 
Eh....a paramedic credential isn't all that expensive to maintain. Heck the only expense I have for my RT license here is paying the fee to the state every two years (it's under $100) because I have a rule that I don't pay for CEUs.
 
Thats not too bad. I can handle one state. I was more referring to it getting really expensive if I had to carry for multiple states.
 
around where im at is close to kentucky and tennessee line...i know at least air evac requires duel certs in tn and ky...aint for sure about the other two air services but i assume they do to
 
Bluestar said:
around where im at is close to kentucky and tennessee line...i know at least air evac requires duel certs in tn and ky...aint for sure about the other two air services but i assume they do to
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That is simple enough: Don't work for Air Evac. Not only would it be cheaper, you'll live longer.

Most likely the dual cert requirement is so that they can shuffle people between bases in both states.
 
Im living on bonus time right now anyways so I'm ok with the risk. If I can ask, Do you work fixed wing?
 
Yeah, I work fixed wing although I was offered a part-time ground job yesterday. For my primary jobs I manage a clinic located within a physician office and run my own company to conduct research, respectively.

As both an EMS provider and an aviation safety researcher, there's no way you could get me to work for an HEMS outfit. I value my life too much and don't want my girlfriend to have to dust off her dress uniform for a funeral any time soon.
 
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Im living on bonus time right now anyways so I'm ok with the risk
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The risk is for no benefit to the patients. According to a massive multicenter study put out at the AAST conference this month, there was no difference among any class of trauma patient going by ground versus by helicopter in terms of any measure of outcome at 1 day, 28 days and 6 months. Are you really willing to die simply to perpetuate a myth and line some company's pockets?
 
No, It has nothing to do with the risk for a company's profit margin. I want to do for me. It's a desire that I have had for some time. What I'm saying is that I should have been dead when I was 20. Every day I have is a bonus but I understand that it can end at anytime. That's why I say what I do.
 
Flightorbust said:
No, It has nothing to do with the risk for a company's profit margin. I want to do for me. It's a desire that I have had for some time. What I'm saying is that I should have been dead when I was 20. Every day I have is a bonus but I understand that it can end at anytime. That's why I say what I do.
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Honestly, if that's the attitude you display I'm not sure I'd want you on an aircraft with me. The whole basis behind "safety culture" is that you start with a bunch of people who are risk adverse.
 
Flightorbust said:
No, It has nothing to do with the risk for a company's profit margin. I want to do for me. It's a desire that I have had for some time. What I'm saying is that I should have been dead when I was 20. Every day I have is a bonus but I understand that it can end at anytime. That's why I say what I do.
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Welcome to how not to get hired in the aeromedical industry or at least get fired very quickly. As both a medical provider and a safety researcher, I would refuse to fly with you. No one wants to fly with a person who has what is tantamount to a death wish. As USALFYRE said, we don't need more cowboys in the field and will do everything to weed them out that is within our power. You want to approach aeromedical operations looking for reasons why not to take a mission, not reasons why you can probably make it and if not, oh well, it might just kill us all but what does it matter since today is a gift anyhow. Risk averse is the best approach.

Do some reading about safety culture and see if you'd fit into that. If not, give up on your "desire".
 
Please don't misread what I said. Like I said, Every day is a bonus. Im not a "cowboy" as you put it. I just understand that it can end. If there is someone's life at risk I'm even more careful then normal. Just because I understand life can end at anytime doesn't mean I go looking for it. Yes I did to an extent when I got out of the hospital, but now i try to look at the whole picture and don't just go running in head first.
 
Flightorbust said:
Please don't misread what I said. Like I said, Every day is a bonus. Im not a "cowboy" as you put it. I just understand that it can end. If there is someone's life at risk I'm even more careful then normal. Just because I understand life can end at anytime doesn't mean I go looking for it. Yes I did to an extent when I got out of the hospital, but now i try to look at the whole picture and don't just go running in head first.
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OK. I just think there is no point in flying as glorified cargo if there's not a benefit to the patient.
 
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