Recreating ourselves

Abstract

Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction. Pablo PicassoThe world of air medical transport is changing rapidly, and the industry must change accordingly to remain competitive. We must recreate ourselves to meet the challenges and maximize the opportunities that come with change. As reflected in the quote from Picasso, sometimes we must be willing to tear down the status quo to create space to build a new vision.When David Dries and I began our tenure as coeditors of Air Medical Journal in 1997, we published a snapshot of the evolution of our publication, beginning with the various association newsletters and ending with AirMed and Air Medical Journal.Six years ago, the owner associations decided to create a separate publication from Air Medical Journal with the goal of focusing on two different editorial tracks—scientific, peer-reviewed information would go in Air Medical Journal, and operational-focused articles and industry news would be featured in AirMed.For 6 years, Air Medical Journal has published original research, book reviews, brief reports, and the abstracts presented at the scientific sessions at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference. During our tenure as editors, we have featured two special-focus issues with clinical articles related to the care of the acute stroke patient and the patient with chest pain and myocardial infraction, respectively. We also have worked hard to include information from our international colleagues, most noticeably in 2000 when we began publishing the abstracts from the international air medical conference in Stavanger, Norway, at which Dr. Dries and I both made presentations.Likewise, AirMed, under the editorship of Linda Passini, has helped foster the discussion of many industry issues by publishing survey data, program profiles, political updates, equipment information, and specific clinical issues and providing a forum for association leaders to speak directly to their members. Most importantly perhaps, AirMed has played an instrumental role in keeping all parties affected by the new HCFA rules informed.Just as many of us have had to rethink our operations in light of industry changes, the owner associations have had to decide what type of publication offers the most quality and cost-effective way to present industry information and the science of transport medicine not only to the members of our associations but also the world. After looking at other highly respected medical publications in the past year, such as JAMA, Journal of Emergency Nursing, and Annals of Emergency Medicine, the Air Medical Journal Associates concluded that a combined publication with the elements from both AirMed and Air Medical Journal was the best way to continue to serve the industry.This issue of Air Medical Journal marks the beginning of a new chapter in our publication's history. Subscribers now will receive six bimonthly issues of Air Medical Journal each year rather than AirMed and a separate quarterly journal. The combined publication will include a section of scientific, peer-reviewed articles and a section with industry news, surveys, program profiles, and regular columns discussing the issues we face every day. We also will bring you information about air medical transport around the world and address how air medical transport can best work with other medical transport partners.Steve Talbert has joined the team as editor for the non-peer-reviewed portion of the journal. We would like to welcome Steve and bid a fond farewell to departing editor Linda Passini. Few people know the time, commitment, and work that being an editor entails. Linda ensured that AirMed was current and timely, and we thank her for her efforts. We encourage you to thank Linda as well by E-mail at [email protected] .We know this will not be the last change to the journal. The future promises a publication that addresses the entire discipline of patient transport, whether by air, ground, or whatever means necessary to move a patient. We all need to continue to “transport” ourselves into the future through research and communication and support each other and the associations that are working toward ensuring safe and competent universal patient transport.Finally, we hope that you continue to support the journal through your membership, writing, and reading. Feel free to contact us and let us know what you think. We want to know what information you need and would like to see in the new Air Medical Journal.The newsletters, magazines, and journals that have served to provide communication related to air medical transport have undergone many changes through the years. One of the first magazines to specifically address the air medical industry was Hospital Aviation, edited and published by Howard Collett. This publication included program listings, safety statistics, and an annual summary of all accidents and incidents. This was an invaluable resource for safety information related to air medical transport.As the number of programs increased nationwide, a publication was needed that addressed not only the operations of programs but also the clinical, educational, and research issues facing patient transport. Several publications emerged from the associations, including the AeroMedical Journal, Air Medical Transport, and the Journal of Air Medical Transport. These periodicals were led by a number of editors, including Jane Wynn, Nick Benson, and Bill Rutherford. They contained a blend of industry news, clinical and scientific articles, program profiles, and abstracts of papers presented at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference.In 1994, as our science continued to develop, a separate journal was needed that afforded the opportunity to publish the research, clinical reviews, and educational components necessary to, as Rutherford put it, “ display the best proof of our contributions to health care.” His vision was to publish more research related to air medical transport. Through his efforts, more original and scientific contributions were featured in the Journal of Air Medical Transport. In 1994, a proposal was accepted by the participating organizations to create two publications: AirMed and Air Medical Journal.After 6 productive years as separate entities, AirMed and Air Medical Journal now have merged under the latter's title to continue to provide the industry with invaluable clinical and operational, as well as personal and professional, information. Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction. Pablo Picasso The world of air medical transport is changing rapidly, and the industry must change accordingly to remain competitive. We must recreate ourselves to meet the challenges and maximize the opportunities that come with change. As reflected in the quote from Picasso, sometimes we must be willing to tear down the status quo to create space to build a new vision. When David Dries and I began our tenure as coeditors of Air Medical Journal in 1997, we published a snapshot of the evolution of our publication, beginning with the various association newsletters and ending with AirMed and Air Medical Journal. Six years ago, the owner associations decided to create a separate publication from Air Medical Journal with the goal of focusing on two different editorial tracks—scientific, peer-reviewed information would go in Air Medical Journal, and operational-focused articles and industry news would be featured in AirMed. For 6 years, Air Medical Journal has published original research, book reviews, brief reports, and the abstracts presented at the scientific sessions at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference. During our tenure as editors, we have featured two special-focus issues with clinical articles related to the care of the acute stroke patient and the patient with chest pain and myocardial infraction, respectively. We also have worked hard to include information from our international colleagues, most noticeably in 2000 when we began publishing the abstracts from the international air medical conference in Stavanger, Norway, at which Dr. Dries and I both made presentations. Likewise, AirMed, under the editorship of Linda Passini, has helped foster the discussion of many industry issues by publishing survey data, program profiles, political updates, equipment information, and specific clinical issues and providing a forum for association leaders to speak directly to their members. Most importantly perhaps, AirMed has played an instrumental role in keeping all parties affected by the new HCFA rules informed. Just as many of us have had to rethink our operations in light of industry changes, the owner associations have had to decide what type of publication offers the most quality and cost-effective way to present industry information and the science of transport medicine not only to the members of our associations but also the world. After looking at other highly respected medical publications in the past year, such as JAMA, Journal of Emergency Nursing, and Annals of Emergency Medicine, the Air Medical Journal Associates concluded that a combined publication with the elements from both AirMed and Air Medical Journal was the best way to continue to serve the industry. This issue of Air Medical Journal marks the beginning of a new chapter in our publication's history. Subscribers now will receive six bimonthly issues of Air Medical Journal each year rather than AirMed and a separate quarterly journal. The combined publication will include a section of scientific, peer-reviewed articles and a section with industry news, surveys, program profiles, and regular columns discussing the issues we face every day. We also will bring you information about air medical transport around the world and address how air medical transport can best work with other medical transport partners. Steve Talbert has joined the team as editor for the non-peer-reviewed portion of the journal. We would like to welcome Steve and bid a fond farewell to departing editor Linda Passini. Few people know the time, commitment, and work that being an editor entails. Linda ensured that AirMed was current and timely, and we thank her for her efforts. We encourage you to thank Linda as well by E-mail at [email protected] . We know this will not be the last change to the journal. The future promises a publication that addresses the entire discipline of patient transport, whether by air, ground, or whatever means necessary to move a patient. We all need to continue to “transport” ourselves into the future through research and communication and support each other and the associations that are working toward ensuring safe and competent universal patient transport. Finally, we hope that you continue to support the journal through your membership, writing, and reading. Feel free to contact us and let us know what you think. We want to know what information you need and would like to see in the new Air Medical Journal. The newsletters, magazines, and journals that have served to provide communication related to air medical transport have undergone many changes through the years. One of the first magazines to specifically address the air medical industry was Hospital Aviation, edited and published by Howard Collett. This publication included program listings, safety statistics, and an annual summary of all accidents and incidents. This was an invaluable resource for safety information related to air medical transport.As the number of programs increased nationwide, a publication was needed that addressed not only the operations of programs but also the clinical, educational, and research issues facing patient transport. Several publications emerged from the associations, including the AeroMedical Journal, Air Medical Transport, and the Journal of Air Medical Transport. These periodicals were led by a number of editors, including Jane Wynn, Nick Benson, and Bill Rutherford. They contained a blend of industry news, clinical and scientific articles, program profiles, and abstracts of papers presented at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference.In 1994, as our science continued to develop, a separate journal was needed that afforded the opportunity to publish the research, clinical reviews, and educational components necessary to, as Rutherford put it, “ display the best proof of our contributions to health care.” His vision was to publish more research related to air medical transport. Through his efforts, more original and scientific contributions were featured in the Journal of Air Medical Transport. In 1994, a proposal was accepted by the participating organizations to create two publications: AirMed and Air Medical Journal.After 6 productive years as separate entities, AirMed and Air Medical Journal now have merged under the latter's title to continue to provide the industry with invaluable clinical and operational, as well as personal and professional, information. The newsletters, magazines, and journals that have served to provide communication related to air medical transport have undergone many changes through the years. One of the first magazines to specifically address the air medical industry was Hospital Aviation, edited and published by Howard Collett. This publication included program listings, safety statistics, and an annual summary of all accidents and incidents. This was an invaluable resource for safety information related to air medical transport.As the number of programs increased nationwide, a publication was needed that addressed not only the operations of programs but also the clinical, educational, and research issues facing patient transport. Several publications emerged from the associations, including the AeroMedical Journal, Air Medical Transport, and the Journal of Air Medical Transport. These periodicals were led by a number of editors, including Jane Wynn, Nick Benson, and Bill Rutherford. They contained a blend of industry news, clinical and scientific articles, program profiles, and abstracts of papers presented at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference.In 1994, as our science continued to develop, a separate journal was needed that afforded the opportunity to publish the research, clinical reviews, and educational components necessary to, as Rutherford put it, “ display the best proof of our contributions to health care.” His vision was to publish more research related to air medical transport. Through his efforts, more original and scientific contributions were featured in the Journal of Air Medical Transport. In 1994, a proposal was accepted by the participating organizations to create two publications: AirMed and Air Medical Journal.After 6 productive years as separate entities, AirMed and Air Medical Journal now have merged under the latter's title to continue to provide the industry with invaluable clinical and operational, as well as personal and professional, information. The newsletters, magazines, and journals that have served to provide communication related to air medical transport have undergone many changes through the years. One of the first magazines to specifically address the air medical industry was Hospital Aviation, edited and published by Howard Collett. This publication included program listings, safety statistics, and an annual summary of all accidents and incidents. This was an invaluable resource for safety information related to air medical transport. As the number of programs increased nationwide, a publication was needed that addressed not only the operations of programs but also the clinical, educational, and research issues facing patient transport. Several publications emerged from the associations, including the AeroMedical Journal, Air Medical Transport, and the Journal of Air Medical Transport. These periodicals were led by a number of editors, including Jane Wynn, Nick Benson, and Bill Rutherford. They contained a blend of industry news, clinical and scientific articles, program profiles, and abstracts of papers presented at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference. In 1994, as our science continued to develop, a separate journal was needed that afforded the opportunity to publish the research, clinical reviews, and educational components necessary to, as Rutherford put it, “ display the best proof of our contributions to health care.” His vision was to publish more research related to air medical transport. Through his efforts, more original and scientific contributions were featured in the Journal of Air Medical Transport. In 1994, a proposal was accepted by the participating organizations to create two publications: AirMed and Air Medical Journal. After 6 productive years as separate entities, AirMed and Air Medical Journal now have merged under the latter's title to continue to provide the industry with invaluable clinical and operational, as well as personal and professional, information.