March/April 2008

Security Credited With ?Assist?

When the AAMC helipad was relocated next to the South campus parking lot in May, the need arose for a way to transport our patients between the hospital and the helipad. Hiring AAA Transport to be onsite 24/7 would have cost the hospital millions of dollars.

A workable alternative, says Inar Maharaj, Director of Security, was to train AAMC Security personnel to drive and operate the ambulance, which AAMC rents from AAA Transport. All Security staff members are trained using a program approved by the National Incident Management System, and the “assist” program went into place in early May. Two Security staff respond to every trip. Lil Banchero, director, patient access, was instrumental in this effort and continues to serve as the liaison between the different companies and Security.

Between the first assist on May 5 and Sept. 16, AAMC’s security staff made 74 assists —an average of just under four per week.

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