News

US/Oregon: Life Flight Network receives Statewide, “EMS Commitment to Quality Award” from Dept of Human Services

October 10, 2008

Life Flight Network will receive a distinct award from the Department of Human Services, Emergency Medical Services & Trauma Systems on Friday October 10th at the statewide EMS awards banquet. An annual highlight of the Oregon EMS Conference, the banquet draws hundreds of EMTs and emergency personnel from around the State. Several personnel from Life Flight will be present to accept the award.

The EMS Commitment to Quality Award is bestowed upon an EMS system demonstrating commitment to the principles of quality improvement, customer service, and excellence in EMS. Uniformed EMS personnel are authorized to wear the award on their uniform.

Life Flight was nominated based upon several criteria. Celebrating 30-years of service this year, Life Flight is one of the oldest and most reputable flight programs on the West Coast. As the only CAMTS accredited joint rotor and fixed wing provider serving Western Oregon, the onus has been on Life Flight to provide an unparalleled level of care and leadership in the air medical industry. Qualified in advanced skills, using state of the art medical equipment and the latest in aircraft, crews have the edge in excellent care and rapid safe response. Citizens have come to depend upon the nurse / paramedic crews that are available 24-7.

Patients suffering a heart attack or stroke have become an increasingly larger portion of Life Flight’s customer base. Life Flight’s rapid response and medical care have not only made a critical difference in outcomes, but have served as a blueprint for other facilities and agencies’ implementation of air ambulance transport protocols for cardiac and stroke patients.

The focus on medical patients has achieved such acceptance within local EMS agencies and the medical community that Life Flight dedicated three additional helicopters this year to serve the Pacific Northwest. Life Flight 5 is now located in the Eugene area, Life Flight 6 is located in the Columbia River Gorge, and Life Flight 7 will soon be based in the Kelso-Longview region.

As Life Flight Network grows in response to an increasing population and need for air medical transport, the exceptionally high standards of rapid response and quality medical care will continue, always with a mindset for the highest safety of its crews and transport vehicles in mind. Life Flight Network has one of the finest safety records in this nation of over 250 air medical programs. Life Flight Network is in a position to meet the future with confidence and growth, as well as the respect of the medical community and the patients it serves.