Issue link: http://kusm-wichita.uberflip.com/i/781935
4 Working in an aircraft simulator, students practice intubations and other procedures. On Dobson's shift, EagleMed flew a patient in respiratory distress to a tertiary care center. They landed in Oklahoma, where a local EMS crew Its Wichita base and maintenance facility are at Eisenhower National Airport. Students ride along as observers in the Beechcraft King Airs. The Emergency Medicine Interest Group approached EagleMed about the flights. EagleMed was receptive, but it took time to work out legalities. In the interim, the company offered students the chance to observe and take part in training. Working in an aircraft simula- tor, students watched and practiced intubations and other procedures. For the ride-alongs, EagleMed assigns the student a 12-hour shift. "We go through our aircraft and show them how things work," Betts said. "Our pilot gives them a safety briefing." "It's a good way to get exposure to emergency medicine and stabilization of patients. It shows how a complete health care team works together – paramedics, patients, pilots, nurses, doctors," Robinson said. "The crew was easy to get along with and ready to teach. It was nice to get away from the book stuff and do medicine." "These students are people we may see again three or four years after working with us. We like teaching and learning from them," said Cindy Betts, operations manager for EagleMed in Wichita. In-flight medicine EagleMed operates from several bases and states with a fleet of helicopters and Beechcraft King Air airplanes.