UMass Memorial Life Flight
Life Flight was New England’s first hospital-based air ambulance. Since its founding in 1982, Life Flight has transported more than 27,000 patients in a geographic area that extends from Southern Connecticut and Rhode Island, up to New Hampshire, then from Boston, Massachusetts to Albany, New York. The Life Flight program began at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center on September 15th 1982. In the beginning, Life Flight was an integral part of the education of physicians in Central Massachusetts for many years, with emergency medicine residents acquiring a significant portion of their EMS training while serving as Flight Physicians. Attending staff and EMS Fellows also participated as Flight Physicians providing education and program direction.
As of December 2012, we have transitioned our medical staffing to Flight Nurse and Flight Paramedic (FP-C). This current staffing model is used across the country in almost all Helicopter EMS (HEMS) programs. It allows for the individual backgrounds to collaborate together and be proficient in all procedures required during critical care transport. Today, our Attending Physicians and EMS Fellows provide administrative leadership, education to our Flight Team, and medical control.
Throughout the past 35 years, UMass Memorial Life Flight prides itself on maintaining the highest quality critical care transport program available to those it serves. With a relentless focus on safety and efficiency, this program is able to provide top quality service to our community.
We are proud to partner with Air Methods under their Alternative Delivery Model. In this service model, Air Methods provides the helicopter, pilots, mechanics, and all transport billing services. UMass Memorial Medical Center provides the communication services, critical care staff, medical and program direction.
Please explore the links on the left to learn more about our safety focus, our staff, and resources to help request UMass Memorial Life Flight and prepare a patient for transport.