STATMedEvacAirPod's podcast

As an experienced field provider and now a regional adminstrator, Brian Shaw, Deputy Director of the EMS West regional office, has seen the EMS systems and profession from all sides. As Brian prepares to accept the role of Executive Director, what does he see in the future for the profession?  Brian is fresh off the 2025 annual EMS educational symposium at 7 Springs with insights.

Greg Winkle, STAT MedEvac's Regional Field Support Maintenance Manager talks about special precautions with operations and maintenance in the winter months.  From salt that can corrode helicopter's parts, inside and out to precautions when there is snow at the LZ.

Bradley A. Kuch, STAT MedEvac's Director of Medical Operations, discusses the usage of CPAP in the field and transport settings.  It's a great tool to help the patient and the provider! Brad brings his practical experience as a respiratory therapist and transport clinician to the podcast to help us understand why it's not something by which to be intimidated.

This episode of the STAT MedEvac AirPod: Phil Little, whose father created the Chicago Fire Museum, talks about the great Chicago fire of 1871 , how it happened, the dispelled rumors of how it started, the creation of fireground procedures since then and, of course, the creation of Fire Prevention Week by President Woodrow Wilson in 1920.

One of STAT MedEvac's new EMS pilots, Amanda Montour, explains her love for aviation and her path to accumulating the flight hours to become a STAT MedEvac EMS Pilot.  One key component is dedication and persisitence. Second, "Love learning!"

This podcast, we talk about the OG EMS skill, needle chest decompression.  Many EMS providers learn and practice it in their annual skills review. But how many have done it on an actual patient?  Is it still an effective skill? UPMC-Presbyterian trauma surgeon, Joshua Brown, MD MSc overviews the latest research.

As first responders and critical care healthcare providers, we need to stay aware of our own mental health. Chelsey Naum Purpura, MS, LPC received her Bachelor's in Psychology at West Virginia University and her Masters in Counseling Psychology at Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. She is licensed as a Professional Counselor and has worked with children, adolescents, and adults and is part of the team at Favored Wellness Counseling. It was due to working with clients who have experienced domestic violence and abuse that she found a passion for helping individuals heal from trauma. With this passion, she became trained in EMDR therapy.  Learn more about Chelsey and EMDR therapy at FavoredWellness.com.

Clinicians for Climate Action launched a campaign to significantly improve healthcare sustainability at UPMC, the largest healthcare system in Pennsylvania. Our guest, Dr. Isabela Angelelli is the Co-Chair for Clinicians for Climate Action.  The current focus of her work in the environmental world includes trees as a public health intervention and efforts to decrease the carbon footprint of regional healthcare systems.

STAT MedEvac has been carrying blood on it's helicopters and ground units for years.  How the blood is obtained, stored and inventoried is explained by STAT's Medical Director Dr. Frank Guyette. It's a very efficient system.

William Horner, EMS pilot and Regional Manager for STAT MedEvac takes time to chat witih Kristen regarding his "dream job" as an EMS Pilot.  Where does one learn to be a pilot?  How long does it take to become an EMS helicopter pilot and what attracted Bill to STAT MedEvac specifically?

Thanks to Chief Tom Bell of the Greensburg Fire Department for having a chat about carbon monoxide.  As we are in the throws of winter and our houses are closed up, this is a good time for all of us to be familiar with the assessment of carbon monoxide hazards as well as the detectors that many fire departments make available.  

Kristen talks to Dr. Jenny Ziembicki, Medical Director of the UPMC/Mercy Burn Center about cold weather emergencies such as frost bite.  What is it?  How do first responders assess and treat it properly.  How to first responders prevent themselves from cold weather injuries when on calls?

Our guest, this month, is the Allegheny County Medical Society's Executive Director Sara C. Hussey, MBA, CAE.  The discussion this month is the mental health of physicians, the rising suicide rate of physcians and prevention/awareness.

In this episode, William Ankrom, an Instructor and Clinical Education Coordinator in the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition for the Athletic Training Program at UPMC, gets more into detail regarding the evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of concussions. Is there a rapid test that first responders and first caregivers can use to assess for a concussion?

William Ankrom is an Instructor and Clinical Education Coordinator in the Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition for the Athletic Training Program at UPMC.  He talks about being prepared for all emergencies at sports events and discusses who is in charge when it comes to injuries.... parents.. team trainer... physician.. EMS? Thank you to: William K. Ankrom, MS, LAT, ATC Clinical Education Coordinator and Instructor, Athletic Training Education Program Instructor

Flight Nurse, Jill Ekis talks about STAT MedEvac's recent involement in tactical medicine under the direction of Dr. Weiss who has overseen the tactical medicine teams for the City of Pittsburgh EMS. 

Elizabeth Wolfe, Executive Director at Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation talks about the inception of PEMF. The organization has funded over 200 grants and have their hands in everything that has to do with emergency medicine, research and education. Find more information on that at www.PEMF.net and on Facebook. Elizabeth also introduces Amy and Bill Norton. The couple shares the story of how EMS helped save Bill's life.

Our own Hollee Russell has been a self-proclaimed "crazy dog lady" for as long as she can remember. As she puts it, she has had "the honor of being on the other end of a the leash" of her dogs. She has  trained for numerous situations and has trained additional dogs and handlers.  She tells her story in this episode of STAT AirPod.

In this episode, compassion fatigue expert, Sharise Nance, discusses the idea of the potential to become a mentally fatigued caregiver simply because of the day-to-day operations of caring for patients.  She makes us aware of how to sense it in ourselves as well as our peers.  You can find more about Sharise on her website, ShariseNance.com.

STAT MedEvac, an Airbus customer for nearly 40 years, has committed to ordering 10 new H135 helicopters as part of a fleet renewal initiative for its air medical operations. What does that mean to the LZ crews, the flight crews and everyone involved in dispatching and direct patient care?  Cyndi Carter, Air Medical Segment Manager, North Amercia for Airbus, talks about all of the upgrades and how they will positively affect patient care and transport operations. 

Ben Shopland is the Paramedic Manager for the In Home Advanced Care Paramedic team at UPMC.  Ben and his team of EMS professionals are flipping the equation when it comes to taking care of patients and making sure that they stay OUT of the Emergency Department when possible. The team is functioning 2 shifts each day in Allegheny County but the plan is to expand the service.  

Our guest is Nikki Campbell, CEO of The Flourish Group.  Nikki is a nutritionist, certified health coach and personal trainer and the company specializes in delivering health coaching to executives, entrepreneurs and other senior-level professionals.

STAT Com's Director of Communications, John Lovett, reviews the various duties of STAT Com and then gives us the "stats" on the specialty transport ground unit!  What all went into the decisions to build the unit from the "ground" up?

Connie Medred, Communications Manager for STAT MedEvac talks about the very little known STAT - MD program.  What is that?  If there is an illness on a commercial airline any where in the world on one of 13 different airlines, STAT MedEvac's STAT MD center is contacted by the flight crew for next steps.. land.. continue.. in-air treatment?  

You can discover it. It's right inside you; you just need to know where to look. Every person in the world who has done anything extraordinary has used the power of insight. I call this “new intuition” or “radical” intuition. It is a much bigger vision of intuition than we have understood in the past ~ placing our inner guidance, or genius, as a vital complement to the intellect. - Kim Chestney, Intuition Specialist

Over the last month, we have collected some thoughts on how to fix the current EMS recruitment and retention issues.  Thanks to those who commented on Facebook, Instagram, called the podcast hotline and talked to us live at the EMS West Update at Seven Springs. 

She may have been the first female EMS pilot in Pittsburgh but, she sees herself as more than that!  Maria was based at M-4. On this podcast, she reflects on her time at STAT MedEvac, the friends she made and how it impacted her life in a positive way.

Pittsburgh's favorite dietician, Leslie Bonci, creator of ActiveEatingAdvice.com, talks about trying to eat healthy and take care of yourself when working those odd shifts, only having access to vending machine or fast food. 

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems is dedicated to improving the quality of patient care and safety of the transport environment.  Marion Jones, Flight Nurse, oversees the voluntary practices of maintaining the CAMTS standards. She explains why STAT MedEvac is dedicated to keeping this high standard.

On this episode, Greg Winkle, Fixed Base Manager, talks about the strict maintenance regimen of the fleet, why they have a mixed fleet of aircraft and the relationship between the flight crews, pilots and mechanical staff.

Bill Horner, STAT MedEvac Pilot and Regional Manager discusses the importance of predesignated landing zones as well as some tips for landing zone marking and operations.  Should flares be used? Why does there need to be a ground contact before landing?  How does the pilot and flight crew recon a landing zone before landing?  

Greg Tutsock, Director of STAT MedEvac Communications, Donna Dugan, Communications Supervisor and John Kuchma, Communications Specialist, explain the various roles within the STAT MedEvac Communications Center and the day-to-day operations.

Tami Carver, Manager, Operations Control Center at STAT MedEvac, walks us through what an Operations Control Center does and why does STAT MedEvac have this component in their operation.