Mercyhealth REACT

Mercyhealth REACT is the helicopter transport program of Mercyhealth, based in Rockford, Illinois. It is a hospital program that flies critically ill and injured patients across northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa. The REACT helicopter transports patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The helicopter provides advanced transport medicine when time, specialized skills or specialized resources are crucial to a patient's outcome or survival. Referring facilities can arrange transport with one call to the Mercyhealth RockCom Communication Center. The company says crews can be en route within minutes.

On board are a pilot, a critical care flight nurse and a critical care flight paramedic. A board certified emergency medicine doctor leads the medical crew. The crew cares for critically ill or injured patients from newborns to adults, including mothers with high-risk pregnancies and children.

REACT carries packed red blood cells and plasma on all critical care transports, by air and by ground. The program is affiliated with two trauma centers: Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside, and Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville, Wisconsin.

As a division of the Mercyhealth Prehospital and Emergency Services Center, REACT has access to the latest medical technology, prehospital research, experienced medical direction and simulation training. Its nurses and paramedics bring the Mercyhealth standard of care to patients of all ages.

REACT takes part in community events such as mock crashes, safety days and public safety open houses. It cannot attend visits to schools, daycares, church events or scouting events, so it offers hangar tours instead. Hangar tours take about 25 minutes and are offered at Mercyhealth Hospital-Rockton Avenue in Rockford. Event requests need 14 days notice.

Services

• Helicopter transport medicine
• Critical care transport
• Neonatal to adult patient transport
• Blood products on all critical care transports
• Public event visits
• Hangar tours
• Community safety days
• Newsletter