The Clinical Advantage
REACH has demonstrated a superior commitment to patient care since its inception. Our guiding principle is simple: "Always do what is right for the patient."
Our clinical staff of flight nurses, flight paramedics and respiratory therapists join REACH with extensive experience within their specialty areas. They undergo thorough clinical rotations, internal training and continuing education. The flight nurses function under an advanced scope of practice, meaning they can perform some interventions typically reserved for physicians. REACH has established several areas of clinical specialty services. In addition to adult medical and trauma patients, our teams are prepared to care for and transport neonatal, pediatric, and high-risk obstetric patients.
Pediatrics
REACH is a model of excellence in the assessment, intervention and safe transport of critically ill or injured children. REACH is recognized as the preferred provider for several major northern California pediatric intensive care units (PICU).
A seminal event occurred in 1993 when Children's Hospital & Research Center Oakland (CHRCO) selected REACH to be its primary provider of air ambulance services for critically ill or injured children. CHRCO supports the highest volume PICU in northern California and, in addition, is a pediatric trauma center. The creation of this relationship catalyzed REACH's heavy emphasis on pediatric critical care education and training.
Neonatal Care
The REACH team recognizes that special care and treatment is needed when caring for and transporting high-risk newborn infants. Through extensive collaboration with neonatal specialists, REACH has reduced response and transport times. In caring for neonates (babies 1 - 28 days old), we have developed a successful transport program utilizing a "hybrid" medical team. In partnership with neonatal intensive care units in northern California, our crew chief nurse acts as the transport expert (safety, operations, etc.) and the hospital-based nurse leads the clinical care. The hybrid neonatal program at REACH demonstrates innovation and incorporates our vision of doing what is right for the patient. For more information, read the "Flying High" article that appeared in Advance for Nurses in July, 2008.
High Risk Obstetrics
REACH's clinical team understands the conditions that can affect the health of a mother during pregnancy. We take every precaution available while utilizing the latest technology to provide continuous maternal and fetal monitoring prior to and during transport to ensure a healthy delivery for both the mother and infant.
CAMTS Accreditation
In 1998, REACH was awarded accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). This achievement involves a voluntary evaluation of compliance with accreditation standards by an independent entity. REACH is proud to maintain full accreditation for the care and transport of critical adult, pediatric, obstetric, and neonatal patients.
REACH Training Academy - Benefiting Our Employees
Once our crew has successfully passed core competencies, they enter into a hands-on phase of training utilizing human interactive simulators. This reinforces what they have learned and incorporates REACH protocol into their care skills. The crew also has the opportunity to work in and around their primary transport vehicle (fixed-wing or rotor-wing) so that they may become familiar with safety and operations pertaining to that aircraft.
REACH's clinical education process is robust. Our Medical Director, Dr. Gary McCalla, tailors his training to needs which are identified through our quality management system. Our CEQS (Clinical Education Quality Specialist) teams develop scenarios which cover pre-hospital, ICU, ED, PICU, NICU, and high-risk OB topics. We do this through the use of human interactive simulators (Sim Man and Sim Baby). This training style is stimulating for our crew, builds camaraderie and prepares them to provide quality patient care on actual transports.
Upon hire, all REACH crew must hold certificates in ACLS, PALS, NRP, BLS, BTLS and/or TNATC.
REACH is truly dedicated to education and training.
