LifeFlight of Maine Named Top Air Medical Program in North America
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – The national Association of Air Medical Services presented the Program of the Year award to LifeFlight of Maine, the state’s only emergency air medical service, at its annual conference in Minneapolis on October 20. The air medical program began in 1998 when healthcare leaders at Central Maine Healthcare Corporation in Lewiston and Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems in Bangor joined forces to create a rapid critical care transport service for the people of Maine.
In remarks made during the acceptance of the award, LifeFlight Executive Director Tom Judge said, “We are deeply honored and humbled to have received this award from our peers across the US, Canada, and beyond. We are still a young organization and we have learned from everyone here tonight and in every corner of this country. You have truly helped us on our journey.”
The award recognizes an emergency medical transport program that has demonstrated a superior level of patient care, management prowess, quality leadership through visionary and innovative approaches, customer service, safety consciousness, marketing ingenuity, community service and commitment to the medical transport community as a whole.
Since its inception in 1998, LifeFlight of Maine has grown from serving a few hundred patients annually, to more than 1,400 in 2008. To date, LifeFlight has safely transported more than 8,500 critically ill or injured patients. According to Michelle Hood, EMHS president and CEO, “LifeFlight’s impressive safety record can be attributed to the unmatched leadership of the program working with a fantastically dedicated team of professionals – pilots, flight nurses, mechanics, and support personnel. This team has kept LifeFlight on the leading edge of patient-centered care while remaining focused on continuous improvement of the aviation infrastructure across Maine.” LifeFlight has been working with hospitals and airports for nearly ten years to create a comprehensive aviation infrastructure that includes helipads, landing zones, weather systems and communications systems.
In 2005, the organization purchased two new helicopters which are equipped with advanced electronics to allow pilots to fly in a wider range of weather conditions. Night vision goggle technology is currently being implemented to aid the crew when flying after dark. The flight crew continues to upgrade its skill level and often carries more advanced medical equipment to aid in transporting patients with especially complex health needs. All of these improvements mean LifeFlight can safely care for more patients.
Peter Chalke, CEO of Central Maine Healthcare Corporation, noted, "Our dedicated team of outstanding people is the reason for LifeFlight's well deserved national recognition. We are very proud to be a founder of this exemplary statewide service. The LifeFlight pilots, nurses, paramedics and support staff renew their commitment to provide excellent patient care and to maintain the highest level of safety each and every day."
LifeFlight’s medical program is overseen by a 17-member clinical practice committee, which provides strict criteria for every patient flight. A physician-led quality assurance program evaluates every patient interaction and specific clinical case review is done for all pediatric patients, cardiac flights, and all flights that result in discharging patients in less than 24 hours.
“What we do collectively in the emergency medical system is important—the promise we make to care is profound, and we make that promise each day to the people of Maine. We strive to be worthy of the patients entrusted to our care, and to be worthy of the public’s trust in all that we do,” concluded Judge.
