Life Force Air Medical

LIFE FORCE Air Medical is a helicopter air medical service based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It is part of Erlanger Health System. The program was launched in 1988 at Erlanger and has since grown to six bases.

The six bases serve more than 25,000 square miles across Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina. The bases are at Chattanooga, Sparta and Winchester in Tennessee, Calhoun and Blue Ridge in Georgia, and Andrews in North Carolina. LIFE FORCE transports patients to any appropriate facility.

Its crews bring advanced care into the air. Care includes airway management with video laryngoscopy, point of care testing, blood and plasma, arterial line placement, hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation and ultrasound. It also includes monitoring for high risk obstetric patients, a dedicated neonatal transport team, direct admission of cardiac patients to the cath lab, cardiac assist device transport and anti-venin treatment.

The fleet has six aircraft. The company flies three Airbus H135 helicopters, formerly known as the EC135, two Bell 407 helicopters and an EC145. The program has four twin engine IFR aircraft and two single engine VFR aircraft. The Bell 412 that flew when the program began has been retired.

Hospitals and EMS crews can request a flight. Groups can ask for a crew at community events. The service also offers education for medical staff, a K-9 transport program and a ride along program called the Special Observer Program.

The program is accredited by CAMTS and meets state requirements. It also publishes a blog and a calendar of education and event dates.

Services

• Emergency air medical transport
• Interfacility air medical transport
• K-9 transport
• Event requests
• Education programs
• Special Observer Program
• Chattanooga MedComm
• Erlanger helipad operations
• Neonatal transport team
• Cardiac assist device transport