AHN LifeFlight, 45 Years in the Making

Abstract

In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the skies have become a battleground against time in a world where every second counts. Since its inception in 1978, a revolution has occurred in emergency medical services, with LifeFlight Helicopters soaring to new heights in emergency treatment and transport. This article will explore the transformation of helicopter emergency medical services through the decades, where every rotor blade spins with a mission to save lives and rewrite the rules of survival. Allegheny Health Network's LifeFlight is a rotor-wing (helicopter) aeromedical transport service that provides rapid emergent transport for critically ill and injured persons. The program hub of operations is primarily in Western Pennsylvania. Since its inception in 1978, the program has grown and transformed into the sophisticated, highly technical, expanded scope of practice, critical care transport service it is today. The crews spend a significant portion of clinical care focusing on preparing the patient to survive the transport and ensure stability during transit; this phase of transport is equally crucial as the patient care during the actual flight. This article introduces the evolution and innovations that LifeFlight's medical crews and aviation practices have undergone since the program started.