One of my most memorable flights


was a severe motor vehicle crash involv­ ing a near­term pregnant patient. With awesome resuscitation efforts from our HEMS team and terrific teamwork from the fire department, emergency depart­ ment, surgical, and neonatal team mem­ bers, both mom and infant survived with great outcomes. The infant required an extended period of CPR post­emergency C­section and the mom underwent a craniotomy with multiple additional surgical interventions.


RPMN:What is your greatest career accomplishment to date? DEIMLING: My greatest career accom­ plishments have been the success sto­ ries in many of the patients that I have cared for. It is hard to put it into statis­ tics but I do know of a number of patients whose outcomes would have been less positive had it not been for our team caring for them. I would put our medical team members, including physicians, advanced practice nurses, and flight nurses, up against any other team in the world for the outstanding care that they provide to our patients each and every day. As far as acknowl­ edgements, I felt very blessed to have been awarded the University Of Cincinnati College Of Nursing Florence Nightingale Award For Excellence in Nursing in 2009.


RPMN: In your view, what is the great­ est challenge for the EMS helicopter industry at this moment in time? DEIMLING: The biggest challenge that I see in our industry today is the fact that it is becoming more of a business and less of a patient service. We have too many HEMS services popping up every­ where because they realize they can make a profit. I see a diminished focus on maintaining not only the level of education and proficiency required to stay competent, but also the clinical skills and decision­making capabilities to promote excellence.


RPMN: If you could give one or two pieces of advice to young flight medics/RNs, what would it be?


rotorcraftpro.com 11


DEIMLING: I would recommend that if


you are interested in pursuing HEMS as a career choice that you plan to make it a lifetime goal. First, you should gain the education and experience neces­ sary to be safe and competent in your role by the time you gain your first employment. Secondly, realize that in order to be the best clinician in this challenging profession, you must be willing to constantly learn, evaluate your performance, and seek improve­ ment. As a medical flight team mem­


ber, you are required to manage a vari­ ety of difficult patient care scenarios in an ever­changing environment. This challenge is also the reason that most of us love it!


Editor’s Note:Many of today’s younger generation HEMS pilots, nurses, and medics were in diapers when this industry veteran was bouncing around in a BO- 105! Rotorcraft Pro congratulates Diana Deimling for her 30 years of excellence in the industry.


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