24/12 - Maryland Courts

paramedic employed by Petitioner TransCare 5 who had been invited to ride along by the
UMMS nurse (with PHI’s permission) for orientation purposes. TransCare, a licensed
commercial ground ambulance transport company, was under contract with UMMS to
provide ground ambulance services for patients between the Medical Center and area
hospitals. 6
Mr. Barbour was a licensed emergency medical technician - paramedic.
After the helicopter arrived at Easton Memorial, Mr. Barbour set up equipment and
the team placed Bryson on the aircraft. Shortly after take-off, however, Bryson’s heart rate
and oxygen blood level began to drop, because, according to the allegations in the complaint,
the endotracheal tube had become dislodged and was blocking his airway. Members of the
flight team searched for a pediatric air mask to restore Bryson’s breathing, but were unable
to locate it. The helicopter then landed at Bay Bridge Airport in Stevensville, where the
flight paramedic retrieved the mask from its storage compartment and Bryson was
reintubated. Bryson’s cardiac activity returned to normal and the helicopter completed its
trip to the Medical Center.
5 We use the designation “TransCare” to refer collectively to TransCare Corporation
and its subsidiary TransCare Maryland, Inc., both of which were named as defendants in the
complaint and both of which are Petitioners in this Court.
6 TransCare does not operate helicopters or typically employ personnel to participate
in air medical transportation.
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