Guiding a Team Through Tragedy: Leadership Lessons Learned From a Fatal Helicopter EMS Crash

Miss René Borghese1

1Duke Life Flight, Durham , United States

A fatal crash is something none of us wants to imagine. Regardless of how detailed the programs policies are or how much time has been spent planning for a potential event, it is a high likelihood that most programs are ill prepared to deal with the emotional and logistic aftermath of a fatal crash. In this presentation, the speaker will provide lessons learned from guiding a team through a fatal helicopter EMS crash and discuss the immediate and on-going considerations for the team to move forward.


Biography:

René Borghese began her flight nurse career at Duke University Hospital in 1993 and currently serves as Life Flight’s Administrative Director. She holds an Associate, Bachelors and Master’s Degree in Nursing. As an At-Large Director and Treasurer on the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Board, she  advocates for safety and improved clinical quality. She also serves as a Board Member for the MedEvac Foundation International, and President for the North Carolina Air Medical Association (NCAA). René is a contributing author for the Standards for Critical and Special Care Transport and serves as faculty for the Medical Transport Leadership Institute.