When to Request MedFlight

MedFlight assists regional health care professionals with rapid, efficient critical care transport of patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries.

MedFlight provides on-site assessment and stablizing treatment, rapid air transportation, and in-flight critical care for pediatric and adult patients, including:

  • Cardiac patients
  • Patients with severe burns, including those requiring hyperbaric oxygen
  • Trauma patients, including those with head and spinal cord injuries
  • Patients with acute surgical or vascular emergencies
  • Patients with acute pulmonary or neurological emergencies
  • Patients with a wide variety of critical care needs, including those requiring advanced invasive monitoring and mechanical ventilation.

Trauma Scene Response Scenarios

MECHANISM OF INJURY

  • Vehicle collision at > 20 mph with ejected occupants.
  • Pedestrian or cyclist struck by a motor vehicle at > 10 mph
  • Death of another individual in the same passenger compartment
  • Falls > 15 feet
  • Multiple patients

CLINICAL CONDITION

  • Penetrating trauma or crush injury to the head, neck, chest, abdomen or pelvis
  • Unstable vital signs
  • Glasgow Coma Score < 10 or deteriorating mental status
  • Neurological status suggestive of spinal cord injury
  • Obvious unstable pelvic injury
  • Major burns ≥ 20% body surface area
  • Partial or complete extremity amputations or vascular compromise

DIFFICULT ACCESS SITUATIONS

  • Ground ambulance access impeded by road, weather or traffic conditions
  • Remote area

TIME/DISTANCE FACTORS

  • Prolonged extrication time
  • Prolonged transport time by ground ambulance
  • Utilization of ground ambulance leaves the local community without adequate EMS coverage

Transport Destinations

For trauma scene responses, MedFlight will transport the patient to the closest Level I or Level II Trauma Center.

For inter-facility transfers, MedFlight will transport the patient to the hospital specified by the referring physician.