As a critical care flight nurse, AirCARE1’s founder and President is acutely aware of what qualifications and experience are needed from medical crewmembers in order to administer care to the most critical of patients.
For over fifteen years, AirCARE1 has provided the highest level of care available in the industry that far exceeds standards. This quality care starts with employing medical personnel who have an acute critical care background as well as extensive knowledge and experience that provides the ability to take command of any situation that might arise during a patient transport.
To maintain the highest level of care, AirCARE1 hires full-time and part time medical personnel with greater than five years of experience. We consciously hire ICU-level trained nurses along with critical care experienced paramedics and registered respiratory therapists as well as physicians. Nurses and Paramedics have or obtain advance certifications within two years of hire to ensure the highest quality of care. Medical personnel are trained and have experience transporting infants, pediatric and adults of all levels and conditions.
By pairing ICU level nurses and flight paramedics/respiratory therapists, we provide continuity of care from rapid patient stabilization through long-term patient management.
Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) Transports
Recognizing the specialized nature of neonatal-related patient care, AirCARE1’s Neonate Intensive Care team is comprised of three team members including a NICU specialist along with an NRP certified nurse and paramedic who are trained in neonatal transports.
Extra Corporal Oxygenation (ECMO) Transports
EMCO transports are highly specialized transports. Only a few air ambulance providers are capable of these types of transports and AirCARE1 is pleased to be one of those providers. AirCARE1 employs highly acclaimed, credentialed teams consisting of trained perfusionists who manage the complexities of this type of patient transport along with AirCARE1’s highly capable medical team. Medical crews go through complex orientation to be able to handle this unique transport.
AirCARE1 medical escort crews are located conveniently around the country near major airports to ensure we can provide cost containment advantages for any mission worldwide. Medical escorts consist of nurses, physicians, paramedics and non-medical escorts to provide for different levels of care. Medical escorts go through the same stringent screening process before being hired. Medical personnel have more than five years of experience and are trained to adapt, improvise and overcoming the complexities of the commercial airline industry. Medical escorts are provided training that includes flight physiology, cultural differences, resource management, fit to fly assessments as well as a multitude of pertinent training modules specific to this industry. Each medical escort is required to be familiar with AirCARE1’s policies and procedures to ensure quality is maintained throughout the mission.
Since each commercial medical escort can be different, case studies are utilized during continuing education to train the CME staff. These case studies increase knowledge and provide education for the medical escort.
AirCARE1 employs our own full-time flight staff of Captains and First Officers. Captains are required to have a minimum of 3,000 hours as well as hold an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification. This certification is the highest FAA pilot certification possible. Flight crews are trained at Flight Safety International (FSI) with Captains trained bi-annually and First Officers trained annually. Captains receive checkrides every six months to ensure flight currency is met.
Flight Safety International is considered the most prestigious flight training facility in the World. Flight crews receive training in Air Medical Resource Management, Emergency Procedures Training, Safety Management Systems, Human Factors, and Crew Resource Management training.
AirCARE1 also provides additional In-House training to provide continued education for pilots to increase knowledge and expertise in their field.
AirCARE1 has a dedicated full-time staff of maintenance technicians that meticulously maintains our fleet of company owned aircraft to ensure safe and reliable transports. By not outsourcing maintenance, we can guarantee all maintenance is performed according to FAA regulations. Our maintenance team is specifically trained on our fleet of Learjet 35s and 36s, as well as factory schooled on the Lear 60s. Training includes Learjet systems, Air Medical Resource Management, Safety Management Systems, trouble-shooting techniques as well as scheduled and unscheduled maintenance. The maintenance team is dedicated to ensuring the highest standard of quality to ensure the flight is completed safely and successfully.
In keeping with our mission to provide care with empathy and compassion, AirCARE1 hires dedicated flight specialists to ensure a consistent, responsive, and knowledgeable communications throughout the transport process.
Flight specialists go through a six- month orientation process and are trained to handle the most complicated air ambulance and medical escort flights. Training includes domestic and international repatriations, customer service, safety management, air medical resource management, operational risk management and a multitude of training topics that help them to efficiently manage each flight while handling all associated tasks including continued flight following with clients.
Monthly meetings are held to present additional educational topics and to provide quality management feedback. This ensures continued quality in our flight department.
Medical personnel never stop training and learning. Continuing education and regularly scheduled safety meetings are critical in ensuring the highest level of care is delivered to our patients. At AirCARE1, all medical staff members are required to attend monthly, quarterly, and yearly training.
AirCARE1’s medical director, who has more than 20 years of critical care experience, oversees the hiring and training process. He ensures the medical crew members are each held to the highest standards of knowledge and training. Patient medical charts are reviewed by the quality management team, including the medical director. Findings from chart reviews are shared at monthly meetings for training purposes.