Exploring Air Medical Transport in the U.S.
Chapter 2: ORGANIZATIONS
Who is Involved?
Air ambulance organizations exist across the United States. Some make a profit, and others exist solely to serve. But all are dedicated to transporting patients to the care they desperately need. Learn below about organizations on both the East and West Coasts.
Non-Profit vs. For-Profit?
Recent research from Consumer Reports has shown that there is a big difference between for-profit and non-profit air ambulance services. Data from the study found that only four large for-profit companies make up for almost half of the industry's revenue.
They also have a spotty safety record, with the same four companies responsible for 68 percent of industry crashes from 2010 to 2016. For-profit companies are more prevalent on the West Coast of the United States, and are often more competitive than non-profit services. Big service areas make it difficult to share radio frequencies, and organizations will often compete with each other to respond to calls.
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Non-profit organizations operate to serve patients, and do their best to keep costs low. In the New England region, many non-profit services will communicate with each other, and the goal is to serve rather than to make a large profit. Any additional funds that are raised go back into the organization to purchase new equipment and train personnel.
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Learn more about how cost impacts the industry here
Non-Profit Organizations
New England Region
North East Air Alliance
The northeast is a unique region, with many options for transport. The creation of the North East Air Alliance (NEAA) allows organizations in the area to communicate effectively, share experiences, and contribute to a well functioning critical care system. Explore the different organizations involved with the NEAA below.
North East Air Alliance Interactive Map
Click to learn more about each organization:
LifeFlight of Maine
LifeFlight of Maine is a non-profit based civilian air ambulance organization based in Bangor, Maine with bases in Lewiston and Sanford. LifeFlight's mission is for everyone in Maine to have access to critical care and medical transport whenever and wherever they need it.
The organization works with Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems and Central Maine Medical Corporation to make sure that they can give their patients the best care possible. Maine is the second most rural state in the U.S. and providing care to the community is critical. Their fleet includes three helicopters and one fixed-wing aircraft. Each apparatus has the equipment and the tools to care for any type of patient with any type of injury.
LifeFlight of Maine is an organization that receives most of its day-to-day funding from insurance payments, but individual donations, and fundraising efforts fill some of the gaps.
North Country LifeFlight
North Country LifeFlight operates out of Saranac Lake, New York, a small town in the Northwest portion of the state. North Country is an entirely unique organization, and operates as a volunteer service. No patient ever receives a bill, and the medical crew operates entirely on a volunteer basis. Each flight nurse or flight paramedic also holds a nursing degree and a paramedic degree. The service utilizes the New York State Police helicopter, and flies with pilots who are either state troopers, or civilian officers.
The organization was founded in 1988 when a task force was created due to concern about the lack of air medical services in northern New York. This group included legislators, physicians, and concerned citizens of New York. The helicopter is maintained by taxpayer money, while the equipment on the aircraft is purchased through fundraising efforts.
The service participates in backcountry rescue, scene calls, interfacility transports, and is also used for State Police missions when needed. A majority of their missions involve medical evacuation or 'medevac.'
Meet Flight Nurse: Adam Boise
Meet Chief Flight Nurse: Chuck Pandolph
Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response Team (DHART)
The Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response team is a hospital based program that operates alongside the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire. The hospital is New Hampshire's only Trauma 1 Facility, meaning that it can provide advanced critical care for a variety of emergencies.
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The organization employs their medical crew through the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and aviation services are provided through Metro Aviation, Inc. DHART also operates a ground ambulance fleet, and transports to hospitals all over New England in combination with their helicopters.
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The organization operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is capable of transporting any adult, pediatric, or neonatal patient to the appropriate medical care anywhere in New England.
Learn more about DHART here
For-Profit Organizations
Major Players
Metro Aviation
Metro Aviation is based out of Shreveport, Louisiana, and is the second civilian for-profit civilian air ambulance with a training center at the base. Formed in 1982, the company has more than 130 aircraft for more than 30 programs in 18 states across the country.
Metro Aviation also holds contracts with hospitals throughout the United States, and these partnerships allow hospitals to take advantage of caps on price escalation, and the organization's strong equity position.
Air Methods
Air Methods is a privately owned helicopter company that brings critical care to 48 states across the U.S.
Founded in 1980, Air Methods provides services in three basic programs, Alternative Delivery Model, Community Based Model, and Hospital-Based service. Air Methods transports patients that require critical care from the scene of an accident to trauma centers and general care hospitals.
Air Methods also has a membership plan for individuals and families who have primary health insurance. For individuals, it costs $40 a year and $75 for families. This membership is only offered to people with health insurance.
The Military
Air ambulance services and air medical transport started with military operations. After the success of evacuations during the Vietnam War, organizations realized this method of transport could be applied to civilian patients too.
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is specially equipped to respond to emergencies on the water. They are most well known for search and rescue (SAR) operations involving disabled vessels and distressed mariners. Most civilian air ambulance services do not possess the equipment or the speed necessary to aid in water rescue, and Coast Guard crews usually consist of two pilots, a flight mechanic, and a rescue swimmer.
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U.S. Coast Guard Lt. John Axtell describes Coast Guard SAR operations as "flying pickup trucks," that help transport patients to the care they need. Sometimes helicopters will bring patients directly to a hospital. In other situations, they are brought to an alternative location, and transported via ground ambulance. While most Coast Guard personnel do not possess the medical training that a typical civilian air ambulance crew has, most rescue swimmers are certified paramedics, and can provide supplemental care until more advanced services arrive.
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Coast Guard missions also include counter-drug operations in the Caribbean, and fishery management in areas like Alaska.
Learn more about Coast Guard missions here