STATMedEvacAirPod's podcast

STAT MedEvac is a critical care transport system and is the clinical arm of the CEM. It has evolved into one of the largest single operated and dispatched air-medical transport system in the United States. STAT MedEvac operates eighteen helicopter base sites in Pennsylvania and surrounding states. The Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization directed by a consortium of hospitals; UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hamot, UPMC Altoona, and UPMC Mercy Hospital.

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Behind the Scenes of Event Medicine

Concerts, marathons, golf outings...what is involved from a medical coverage readiness? Dr. Vince Mosesso, Emergency Medicine, discussed the behind the scenes planning assessments and logistics with interesting examples.  

11-19
17:22

STAT MedEvac AirPod - RSV in the Pediatric Patient

Fall is officially here, which means that the peak of cold and flu season is right around the corner. As adults, it could be a challenging time, it's even more of a challenging time for children when it comes to airborne viruses. Joining us for a conversation about RSV today is Zach Reiser.

10-21
22:23

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Depression and Suicide Awareness in the Healthcare Provider

Vint Blackburn, MD is a board-certified psychiatrist with advanced training in child and adolescent psychiatry. He practices in the Pittsburgh area through Blackburn Psychiatry and is also affiliated with UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. Beyond his clinical work, he is an active member of the Allegheny County Medical Society and leads the Physician Wellness Advisory Board for the Physician Wellness Program. Dr. Blackburn brings not only medical expertise but also creativity, curiosity, and a deep commitment to supporting physician wellness and community health. From teacher to EMT to psychiatrist, Dr. Blackburn has had a wide range life experiences.  He currently lends his life experiencess and formal training to help identify depression and suicide tendencies in healthcare professionals.

09-24
13:58

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Toddler Drownings

Zachary Reiser is a Nurse on the UPMC Children's Hospital Critical Care Transport Team. In this episode, drowning is the topic of this episode. Nearly 70% of toddler drownings occur in non-swim time. More than 80% of drownings occur with at least 1 adult in the patient's presence.  More than 90% of drownings are preventable.

08-06
22:02

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Using Machine Learning to Improve Triage

As in multiple blood pressure and pulse assessments, "analylizing" and trending data is not new to patient care to assess a situation.  Our guest on this podcast, Aaron Weidman, PhD, MA a Data Scientist at UPMC, has been involved in a research project of trending data at an entirely different level... patient triage using machine learning! 

07-08
15:27

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Sleep Pattern Research for EMS (Shift Work)

Dr. Daniel Patterson is a clinician-scientist who studies safety in emergency care settings with special emphasis on safety culture, fatigue, shift work, sleep health, teamwork, medical errors and adverse events, and clinician injury in the prehospital EMS setting.  He reviews the details of his work on this episode of the AirPod.

05-28
13:19

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Brian Shaw, Deputy Director, EMS West

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.

04-24
11:46

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Winter Operations Precautions

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.

01-22
08:01

CPAP for EMS and Critical Care Transport - Don't Be Intimidated By It!

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.

11-21
13:59

STAT MedEvac AirPod - The Dramatic History of Fire Prevention Week

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.

10-09
24:40

Navigating the Route to Become and EMS Pilot

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!"

08-21
18:01

Needle Chest Decompression - Is the OG EMS Skill Effective and Useful?

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.

07-23
12:29

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Caring for The Caregiver's Mental Health with EMDR Therapy

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.

05-20
22:36

STAT AirPod - Effects of Climate Sensitivities on Pediatric Patients

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.

04-10
18:28

STAT MedEvac Airpod - The STAT Blood Bank Explained

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.

03-20
13:55

STAT MedEvac Airpod - So You Want To Be an EMS Pilot?

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?

02-23
13:02

STAT MedEvac Airpod – Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Detection

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.  

01-30
21:15

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Frost Bite/Cold Weather Injuries

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?

01-12
10:53

STAT MedEvac Airpod - Physician Suicide and Mental Health Support

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.

10-06
16:58

STAT MedEvac AirPod Concussions Part 2

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?

09-13
13:57

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