By Margaret Hopper

When life is ebbing and minutes count, big decisions have to be made. People look for someone or something that offers hope and takes the pressure off the moment. A new procedure, a new drug, or flying off to a larger medical facility in a helicopter, anything to stop the feeling of panic and renew the hope.

How do we get to the point that something not well understood may be Gǣthe perfect solution?Gǥ Is something missing that should have been foreseen, and information that isn't well presented, depriving families of logical options well before the emergency arises? Our local hospital prides itself on informing the community of many factors that bring trust, it says. And questions asked in advance of any crisis are a good investment.

One that needs much explaining is how to figure the costs of a medical flight when minutes count and decision-makers are in shock. A call to the providers beforehand yields hard facts. The billing is done after the fact, not before the flight is dispatched. Many factors determine costs. The miles to the pickup and more to the destination have some bearing, but donG