• scene and inter-facility transport

• critical care transport for adults, high-risk expectant mothers, neonates and pediatrics

Memorial Star Transport's current re-accreditation period from CAMTS is March 16, 2011 through March 16, 2014 for ground, helicopter and fixed-wing inter-facility transport for neonatal, high-risk obstetrical and pediatric patients, and for helicopter scene and inter-facility transport for burns, cardiac and trauma patients. To attain accreditation, the service is evaluated for safety standards, education, staffing, communications, maintenance and administration.

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Equipment and Staff Capabilities

Specialized equipment for HROB, neonatal and pediatric transports includes:

• transport ventilator

• hemodynamic monitoring

• cardiac monitor/12-lead EKG, oximetry, ETCO2 monitoring

• airway management/RSI intubation

• vaso-active medications

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Paying for Emergency Transport

Many insurers will cover some costs for emergency medical helicopter transport to the most appropriate facility in cases of acute injury or illness. The cost for emergency transport is covered by most insurance providers. Check with your insurance provider to determine coverage.

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Travel Time and Coverage

The time it takes for the helicopter to travel from Memorial Hospital Central (at 1400 East Boulder St., Colorado Springs, CO) to outlying areas is denoted in increments of 15-, 30-minute, and 60-minute intervals on the coverage map below:

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Medical Transport Teams

Our specialty care team (SCT) transports high-risk obstetrical, pediatric and neonatal patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our primary flight team of RNs and EMT-Ps respond to scenes and inter-facility transports by helicopter. Team selection is based on the the patient's unique current and potential needs, which is also the case for all equipment. All Memorial Star Transport nurses, respiratory therapists and paramedics are trained in flight physiology, safety and their team's specific areas of critical care medicine.

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High-Risk Obstetric (HROB) Team

Memorial's HROB team is one of the few services in the nation dedicated to the care and transport of high-risk pregnant woman. Our focus is the evaluation, stabilization and transport of these patients. We service numerous facilities in southern Colorado and neighboring states, bringing patients to Memorial Hospital Central for maternal-fetal medicine care. We also have the ability to transport patients to other specialized facilities when necessary.

The need for transport may be caused by an obstetrical condition including, but not limited to:

• pre-eclampsia

• eclampsia

• HELLP syndrome

• pre-term labor

• premature rupture of membranes or placental abruption

Additionally, we are available for patients with medical problems during pregnancy and for those with neonatal complications requiring the services of our Level IIIb NICU and neonatologists immediately upon delivery.

Team configuration is typically a HROB-registered nurse and a respiratory therapist, both specially trained in the care and transport of high-risk pregnant women. Our HROB nurses are required to have a minimum of three years of high-risk obstetrics nursing experience in a tertiary care center, and show continuing competency in obstetric nursing through the National Certification Corporation. Both team members maintain certifications in BLS, NRP and ACLS. The HROB team's medical director is board-certified in obstetrics, gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine.

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Neonatal Team

Memorial's neonatal team specializes in providing comprehensive, intensive and progressive care for extremely low birth weight babies, as well as critically ill newborns. Our focus is the evaluation, stabilization and transport of these patients. We service numerous facilities in southern Colorado and neighboring states, bringing patients to Memorial Hospital for Children's Level IIIb neonatal intensive care unit for 24-hour a day and 7-days a week care and consultation provided by neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners.

Team configuration is typically a specially trained neonatal nurse and respiratory therapist, both experts in the care and transport of extremely low birth weight neonates. The neonatal team must have a minimum of three years of experience in a Level III NICU, maintain a current Colorado license and hold BLS, NRP, PALS and STABLE certifications. Team members are proficient in the following procedures for babies 23-weeks gestation and greater:

• intubation

• umbilical line placement (both arterial and venous)

• chest tube insertion

• needle chest thoracentesis

• intraosseous access

• peripheral access

In addition to these proficiencies, many of our nurses and respiratory therapists hold advanced certifications such as RNC-NIC or C-NPT. The neonatal team's medical director is board-certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine.

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Primary Flight Team

Memorial Star Transport's Primary Flight Team (PFT) has specialized training for helicopter transport from scenes and inter-facility. Air medical transport may be used for patients with:

• unstable vital signs

• compromised airways or breathing difficulties

• significant mechanism of injury

• chest pain

• STEMI

• altitude sickness

• CVA with potential for thrombolytic therapy

• burns

• head, chest, pelvic, spinal trauma

• pediatric patients with respiratory compromise

The team is comprised of an RN and EMT-P with at least three years of critical care experience (for RNs) and three years of ALS experience (for EMT-Ps). On average, our nurses have 12 or more years of experience. Both team members maintain BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNATC certifications and are proficient in intubation of adult and pediatric patients, and intraosseious access, needle and surgical circothyrodiotomies. Nurses are proficient at and respiratory therapists assist with central line insertion, CT insertion and pericardiocentesis.

Our medical director, board-certified in emergency medicine, oversees all training programs and ensures the overall quality of Memorial Star Transport.

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Type of Aircraft and Ground Inter-Facility Ambulances

Helicopter Ambulance

Med Trans Corp operates and maintains the Bell 407 helicopter equipped with a high-tech communications system, night vision goggles, a customized interior for optimal patient care and comfort and sophisticated lighting to ensure safety. Pilots are commercially rated with more than 27 years of combined experience and have ultimate authority to accept missions based on weather conditions.

Memorial Star (program) is a "DBA" for Med-Trans Corporation (Med-Trans), an FAA Part 135 certificate holder and operator. Accordingly, all transportation by rotor wing that is done by this program is, in fact, done by Med-Trans. All rotor wing aircraft and flights are under the operational control of Med-Trans, and all operations by this program are conducted for ensuring this program's rotor wing aircraft(s) are airworthy and are in compliance with its FAA-approved inspection/maintenance program. Med-Trans has specified the conditions under which flight may be operated. All rotor wing flight crewmembers at this program who are assigned to a flight by Med-Trans are qualified and have been trained under Med-Trans' approved training program.

Ground Ambulance

American Medical Response (AMR) maintains and operates the critical care ambulance. In support of Memorial Hospital for Children, AMR provides a specialty care transport (SCT) unit at our facility for the urgent needs of newborns, pediatric and high-risk obstetrical patients. Available 24-hours a day and seven days a week, the vehicle is staffed with one state-certified EMT and paramedic along with a specialty care team from Memorial Star Transport. The ambulance is configured to handle transporting a neonatal isolette, adult or pediatric patient. The ambulance is inspected yearly by the county health department.

Airplane Ambulance

EagleMed, LLC is the FAA Part 135 Certificate Holder of the Beechcraft King Air Fixed Wing. EagleMed, LLC owns and operates the fixed wing aircraft and maintains full operational control, provides the EMS license, aircraft, pilot and safety officer on all fixed wing transports and adheres to stringent safety measures with their aircraft.

The King Air twin-engine turbo prop travels at 276 mph, has a 1,200-mile range and operates on paved airstrips of approximately 3,200 feet. The aircraft is pressurized and normally operates at a cruising altitude of 10,000 to 25,000 feet. The King Air is excellent for midrange transfers that provide better efficiency, a roomier cabin and a greater payload than its jet competitors.

Emergency Communications Center

AMR Communications Center provides 24-hour dispatch and flight following for helicopter and critical care ground ambulance. The communications specialists are certified by the National Association of Air Medical Communication Specialists (NAACS). They facilitate transports by air or ground ambulance, assisting care teams with all necessary patient preparation and stabilization. To prevent helicopter shopping, they provide the pilot in command with contact information from the other flight programs that turned down a flight due to weather concerns and page out over www.weatherturndown.com with the program name, reason and contact information for the pilot.

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How to Contact Memorial Star Transport

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Schedule a Helicopter Tour

If you would like to learn more about our services, tour our helicopter at the Colorado Springs Airport and meet the flight team, call us to schedule a tour. If you work for a fire department, law enforcement agency, or other emergency service, call us to schedule an on-site demonstration. You provide a landing zone, and we'll deliver a safety presentation and helicopter demonstration.

To schedule a tour or on-site demonstration, call 1-800-763-4373.

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