Mercy Flight (Benefis Health)

Benefis Mercy Flight is the hospital air medical programme of Benefis Health System in Great Falls, Montana, United States. It gives emergency and critical care transport by helicopter, fixed wing airplane and ground vehicle.

Services

The site says the programme has existed since 1983 and cares for adults and children. Crews may include registered nurses, paramedics and respiratory therapists, depending on what the patient needs. The service is on call all day and night, every day.

Aircraft and operators

• Helicopter: used at accident scenes and for patients in isolated areas, and to move patients from nearby towns to Benefis. Flights are contracted through Metro Aviation.
• Fixed wing: used for longer trips within Montana and to larger cities such as Spokane, Seattle, Salt Lake City and Denver. Flights are contracted through Aero Air. The site says the plane can land on some of the shortest runways in Montana.
• Ground critical care vehicle: used when weather grounds the aircraft, and for trips to and from rural places that need a higher level of care.

Requests

Emergency crews, law enforcement and 911 centres have authority to send Mercy Flight. The site says to call 911 in a medical emergency.

The site also links to a letter from the Montana Air Medical Alliance about helicopter shopping. If you need Mercy Flight directly, use the communication center number below.

Facts

• Type: hospital programme of Benefis Health System
• Helicopter operator: Metro Aviation; fixed wing operator: Aero Air
• Accreditation: CAMTS, as stated on the site
• Programme running since 1983