Summary: <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Getting to the right medical facility in time can save your life, and sometimes the distance is too great for ground vehicles to get the job done. When that happens, a ride in an air ambulance can be a lifesaving trip. Today’s guest knows firsthand how vital those flights can be.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bernie Copeland is a flight paramedic who has been flying for the last 12 years. He’s got 30 years of medical experience under his belt. In addition to being an accomplished flight paramedic, Bernie is a veteran and a Harley owner. Listen to the episode to hear what Bernie has to say about how he ended up in the medical field, how he’s seen his industry change over the last 12 years, and what a day in his job is life.</span></p> <p><b>Topics Discussed in Today’s Episode:</b></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Bernie got into the medical field</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Bernie ended up piloting air ambulances</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Bernie wanted to fly</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What air ambulances are like</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The areas that Bernie covers in the air ambulance</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The different classifications of trauma centers that Bernie works with</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What a typical day in Bernie’s job looks like</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The types of medical professionals that work in medical flights</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The training involved for nurses and paramedics that work in medical flights</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The type of personality that it takes to be an air ambulance medical professional</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The hardest part of Bernie’s job, and how he handles difficult cases</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bernie’s advice to military personnel who are looking to transition to Bernie’s line of work</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Resources that Bernie recommends for people who are looking to transition from the military to the civilian medical field</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Where Bernie sees his industry going over the next 10 to 20 years</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How the technology is changing</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bernie’s favorite tool that he uses in his job</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Bernie wishes he’d known before he started in this line of work</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The aircraft that Bernie flies in most often</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stories from Bernie’s job</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shortages in the medical flight field</span></li> </ul> <p><b>Links and Resources:</b></p> <p><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-copeland-106a4070/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bernie Copeland</span></a></p> <p><a href="https://lifeteam.net/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Air Evac LifeTeam</span></a></p>
