I worked in EMS. United battled a bunch of civil suits years ago where they had denied HEMS transports (helicopter transport) from accident scenes due to "lacking pre-authorization". For a car accident.
What would that even look like?
"This is John, I'm a paramedic working on one of your patients who was hit by a truck. We would like to fly him to the trauma center due to extensive multisystem trauma but we need your authorization. His name? Hang on, let me find his wallet. No, that's Smythe, S-M-Y-T-H-E, sorry, I know, it's a bit loud with the jaws of life in the background... Uhh, sure, I guess I can hold for a nurse consult..."
I worked in EMS. United battled a bunch of civil suits years ago where they had denied HEMS transports (helicopter transport) from accident scenes due to "lacking pre-authorization". For a car accident.
What would that even look like?
"This is John, I'm a paramedic working on one of your patients who was hit by a truck. We would like to fly him to the trauma center due to extensive multisystem trauma but we need your authorization. His name? Hang on, let me find his wallet. No, that's Smythe, S-M-Y-T-H-E, sorry, I know, it's a bit loud with the jaws of life in the background... Uhh, sure, I guess I can hold for a nurse consult..."