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Air Medical Transport Conference poised for busy return to Salt Lake City

By Jen Nevans | October 29, 2024

Estimated reading time 8 minutes, 25 seconds.

The Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC) is set for a highly anticipated return to Salt Lake City, Utah, from Nov. 4 to 6.

After a strong rebound in attendance last year, AMTC organizers are expecting an even busier show this time around, with a focus on adding value for attendees and addressing key industry challenges.

“We’re really excited about this year’s AMTC,” said Jana Williams, president of the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). “Salt Lake City is a wonderful host location, and our three local programs — Airlife Utah, Intermountain Health, and the University of Utah — are eager to showcase their work.”  

Williams noted that AMTC is pacing ahead of last year’s attendance, which saw 1,200 participants as the industry continued its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We’re hopeful to reach pre-pandemic numbers this year, and the response from the industry has been tremendous,” she said.

One of the driving forces behind this year’s AMTC is the goal of adding value for attendees. The conference will feature over 100 educational sessions spread across three full days — an additional half-day added to the schedule.

“We really wanted to provide as much content and learning opportunities as possible,” Williams explained. A new addition to the AMTC lineup is the Insight Circles, which are curated roundtable discussions designed to capitalize on the in-person networking opportunities.

“So much of our work these days is done remotely, so we wanted to create spaces where industry leaders can come together, have tough conversations, and really engage face-to-face,” Williams said.

Another highlight is the Executive Leadership Forum, where executives from major air medical programs, operators, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) will discuss industry challenges.

“Workforce continues to be a major issue, and we have at least five sessions focused on improvements in that area,” Williams noted. One particularly innovative program is the National EMS Pilots Association’s (NEMSPA) Medical Pilot Career Launch program, which will provide hands-on experiences and introductions to EMS operators for pilots interested in transitioning to the air medical field.

In addition to the educational and networking opportunities, AMTC will also feature the return of popular events like the “Mash Bash” closing celebration. This year, the event will be rebranded as “Rebooted,” paying homage to the origins of air medical transport with “MASH” while also celebrating the influence of medical-themed television shows like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “ER,” and “Chicago Med.”

“Whether you’re in camo or not, this is going to be a toast to our industry and its people, and how the real-life work we do has been influenced by Hollywood and vice versa over the decades,” Williams said.

Underlying the excitement of AMTC are several key issues and challenges that attendees will be discussing on the show floor. Chief among them is the ongoing struggle with reimbursement and the rising costs of air medical transport.  

“Cost continues to rise, and we’re seeing longer delays in getting paid, with some programs waiting over 200 days for reimbursement on more than a quarter of their transports,” Williams explained. “This is impacting cash flow and has ripple effects throughout the industry.”

Williams emphasized the need to fix Medicare reimbursement rates, which she said are “well below cost.” She advocated moving beyond the current base rate and loaded miles model, arguing that air medical programs should be compensated for their readiness to respond, not just when they transport a patient.

“Study after study has shown the value of air medical transport in the continuum of care, leading to better outcomes and lower overall costs per episode,” Williams said. “We need to work with payers to help them understand this value, and we need to collaborate as an industry to request new funding from Congress, not just shuffling money around between different buckets.”

Workforce challenges also remain a significant concern, with the days of people lining up to join the air medical profession long gone. Williams praised the creativity of programs like the NEMSPA pilot career program, saying, “We have to get more innovative in our recruitment and retention efforts to attract people to this noble profession.”

Looking ahead to 2025, Williams has several key priorities for the organization. First on her list is stabilizing AAMS financially and increasing transparency for members.

“Our small but mighty team, along with a dedicated board, have worked hard to roll up their sleeves and get AAMS on solid footing,” she said.

Building on that foundation, Williams is focused on growing AAMS membership, including welcoming back former members.

“We’ve seen a great influx of members rejoining, and I believe it’s because they’ve seen the material changes and value that AAMS is providing again,” she said.

Closely tied to that is Williams’ commitment to continuously adding value for AAMS members.

“It’s not enough anymore to just offer a conference or educational sessions. Our members want more, and we need to find ways to offset costs while delivering even greater value.”

One way Williams plans to do that is by further empowering AAMS’ state and regional committees. These groups have created a robust online “toolbox” of resources, such as bylaws templates and best practices for safety stand-down days. They’ve also made themselves available as mentors to help other regions and states collaborate.

“The bi-directional communication between the national efforts and the state and local levels is so important,” Williams said. “We want to make it easy for our members to access the support and ideas they need, without having to reinvent the wheel.”

Building and strengthening industry collaborations is another key focus for Williams. She pointed to AAMS’ recent success in delaying the Veterans Affair’s (VA) plan to index reimbursement to Medicare rates, crediting the power of a united industry coalition.

“For too long, we’ve been fragmented, and I believe that has hurt us in our advocacy and workforce efforts,” Williams said. “The collaborations we’ve built are making a real difference, and I’m committed to expanding those partnerships even further.”

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