Why it matters: When critically ill newborns or high-risk pregnant patients need emergency transport, every second and every detail counts.
The big picture: University of Utah Health’s AirMed perinatal team recently earned national recognition from the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) for their excellence in neonatal and pediatric transport.
How it works:
- Each flight typically includes a NICU nurse, respiratory therapist, and obstetric nurse
- The EC145 helicopter features clamshell doors that provide critical space for specialized equipment, including a 350-pound neonatal isolate
- Before takeoff, crews conduct detailed safety checks: walking the helipad, securing equipment, and ensuring nothing can be blown away during rotor spin-up
- The team serves patients across the Mountain West, from near the Canadian border in Montana to New Mexico
Between the lines: This isn’t just about equipment and protocols. The team averages 17 years of experience and receives extensive advanced training to handle the complexity of in-flight neonatal and perinatal care.
The bottom line: These specialized transports help ensure that patients reach the facility best equipped to meet their clinical needs, connecting rural and regional hospitals to advanced care when it matters most.