New air medical service launched in Lancaster County

Lancaster County has a new emergency air service to provide critical medical care. 

Air Methods, in partnership with WellSpan Health, opened a base at Stevens Fire Company to provide service in central and southern Pennsylvania. 

The new base, WellFlight Lancaster, is the second joint venture base between Air Methods and WellSpan Health. The first is based in Gettysburg. 

 The new base location will improve access to emergency services centered on transporting sick patients as well as scene and trauma-related calls within surrounding communities assisting fire and emergency medical service (EMS) teams, quickening response times, Air Methods said. 

 “We’re thrilled to continue the partnership with Air Methods and expand critical care access to the communities we serve,” said Dr. Michael Seim, senior vice president and chief quality officer, WellSpan Health. “By continuing the partnership, we are ensuring the best recovery possible for our patients.” 

“Air Methods and the WellFlight program are dedicated to continuous improvement of its safety operations and culture, believing that our SMS program is essential to continuous improvement and unparalleled protections for our crews and patients,” said Air Methods Account Executive Ron Brown. “We evaluate communication, operations, clinical quality, and patient safety outcomes for every flight to improve and elevate our services.” 

 WellFlight Lancaster is a community-based service staffed with a pilot, nurse, and paramedic. 

 The team achieved the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and carries the critical tools, medications, and supplies needed to provide lifesaving interventions at the scene and ICU-level care while in flight.  

On every flight, the team carries blood and blood products, positively increasing patient outcomes through pre-hospital care, Air Methods said. The clinical team is trained to provide advanced airway intervention; cardiac (including balloon pump/Impella) and blood flow monitoring; ventilator management; medication administration and titration, monitoring potential side effects; and other advanced specialty surgical procedures. 

 “Where seconds make all the difference in saving a life, the highly trained air medical team is capable of lifesaving interventions at the scene and in flight,” said Brown. “We are incredibly versatile in what we do, fundamentally serving as a flying intensive care unit.” 

The WellFlight team is co-housed with Stevens Fire Company, a volunteer-driven and non-profit community organization.  

 “By training with our local Fire and EMS partners and being part of the community, we’re producing more efficient and effective response times, arriving faster on the scene and following accurate and safe procedures, leading to seamless patient care,” said Brown. “We couldn’t be prouder of the partnership we are building with our fire and EMS teams.”