LIFE STAR (Hartford HealthCare)

LIFE STAR is a critical care medical transport service operated by Hartford HealthCare in Connecticut. It provides helicopter transport for patients needing emergency and critical care to tertiary care hospitals in the region. LIFE STAR works closely with the trauma and EMS departments at Hartford Hospital and coordinates with specialist doctors at various receiving hospitals.

The service covers a wide area, reaching emergency and critical care calls within a radius of approximately 150 miles from its bases. It serves multiple acute care hospitals, including Backus Hospital, Hartford Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, MidState Medical Center, and Windham Hospital.

LIFE STAR operates multiple helicopters staffed by highly trained medical crews. The main aircraft in operation are the Eurocopter EC-145 models. Two of these helicopters are based at MidState Medical Center in Meriden and The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, Connecticut. Additionally, a third helicopter, an EC-135, is located at Westfield-Barnes Airport in Westfield, Massachusetts. This aircraft is operated jointly with Baystate Health and Air Methods, featuring a slightly different medical crew makeup.

Flight teams typically include a flight nurse, a flight respiratory therapist, a pilot, a mechanic, and a communications specialist. In the case of the EC-135 flights, the crew includes a flight nurse, flight paramedic, and pilot. These crews maintain contact with doctors before and during flights to ensure continuous expert care for patients during transport. LIFE STAR's aircraft can reach speeds of up to 155 miles per hour and aim to be airborne within minutes following a request.

LIFE STAR has been in operation since 1985. The service operates 24 hours a day and is an integral part of Hartford HealthCare's emergency response network. It is authorized as a hospital program under Hartford HealthCare but no specific FAA or other aviation certifications are listed on the website.

The company emphasizes coordination with regional hospitals and emergency medical services to provide expedited transport for patients in need of critical care. LIFE STAR is ready to serve emergencies 24/7 across Connecticut and nearby areas, supporting the timely delivery of specialized medical treatments.

Services

• Critical Care Helicopter Transport
• Emergency Medical Transport
• Patient Air Ambulance
• 24/7 Air Medical Service
• Flight Nurse Support
• Flight Respiratory Therapist Care
• Coordination with Trauma and EMS
• Transport to Tertiary Care Hospitals
• Joint Flights with Baystate Health
• Interfacility Patient Transfer