If It Goes by Air, Should a Doctor Not Be There? Pre-Hospital Care with Dr. Mike Christian

Dr. Mike Christian is a critical care and pre-hospital medicine specialist with extensive experience in aeromedical transport and military medicine. His diverse career spans work as a paramedic, internal medicine and critical care training, and roles as a flight physician with London Air Ambulance and the Canadian military. He is a leading advocate for integrating interprofessional teams and advancing physician-led pre-hospital care in Canada. Currently, he is involved in the MedResponse BC initiative, which aims to enhance critical care delivery outside of hospitals.

In this episode, Peter and Leon sit down with Mike to explore the evolving landscape of pre-hospital critical care. From his unconventional career path to the integration of AI in emergency response, he shares insights on improving outcomes in pre-hospital medicine and the lessons Canada can learn from global high-performance systems.

Key Topics & Chapters

Mike’s Career Journey

• From paramedic to physician: an unconventional path

• Military and aviation medicine experience
• The shift to leadership in pre-hospital care

Pre-Hospital Critical Care: Canada vs. The World

• How Canada’s HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) differs from global models
• Lessons from the UK, Australia, and Denmark
• The role of AI in dispatch and triage

The Role of Physicians in Pre-Hospital Medicine

• The evolving need for physician-led care outside the hospital
• The impact of interprofessional teams on survival rates
• Mentorship, coaching, and cultural change in pre-hospital systems

The Role of the Physician in Pre Hospital Medicine.

• AI-powered dispatch and GoodSAM app in improving CPR and trauma response
• Scoop and run vs. stay and play: What actually saves lives?
• Addressing Canada’s geographical challenges with rural and remote care

Future Directions in Pre-Hospital Medicine

• The rise of telemedicine and virtual ICUs
• Developing triage physicians and training programs
• MedResponse BC: A new model for interprofessional pre-hospital care

Keywords:

Pre-hospital care, critical care transport, HEMS, trauma response, paramedics, physician-led pre-hospital medicine, telemedicine, AI in emergency medicine, interprofessional teams, rural emergency care, GoodSAM app, London Air Ambulance, MedResponse BC.

Links of Interest:

1. CCCF Presentation:  https://youtu.be/MVDHaYaZRSI  (Web view)
2. Recent Publication:  https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049  (Web view)