ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the planning for aeromedical evacuation (AE). NATO definitions of (AE) are used widely by militaries: MEDEVAC – Medically supervised patient movement to/between medical facilities. CASEVAC – Not medically supervised. The principles of AE includes offering advantage to patient, weighing against maintenance of ground-based care and risks of AE, carefully plan and risk assess and considering whole patient journey, not just aircraft portion. AE is categorised based on priority, classification and dependency. The planning considerations focuses on medical information quality, aircraft capability, aeromedical crew, patient and aeromedical crew logistics, aeromedical risk assessment, aeromedical equipment and airline medical clearance. The basic aeromedical risk assessment are pulse, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, haemoglobin, oxygen saturation and so on. Quality care and governance include recording of preflight risk assessment and decision making, in-flight, handover records, record-keeping quality, organisational learning and specified standards.
