MercyOne Air Med

MercyOne Air Med is a hospital air medical programme of MercyOne in Iowa, United States. It flies critically ill and injured patients by helicopter. MercyOne is a health system, and the aircraft are operated by Air Methods.

Services

Air Med crews respond to accident scenes and move patients between hospitals. The programme now has a Maternal Transport Team that works with a Neonatal Transport Team. These teams care for mothers in difficult labour and for sick newborns, with a focus on rural areas where few obstetric services exist.

Crews can use tools such as a ventilator, an isolette for babies, a chest compression device, a fetal heart monitor and blood on board. The site says patients treated include trauma, burn, heart, lung, transplant and high risk pregnancy cases.

Aircraft and crew

The site says the helicopters fly with twin engines and a single pilot under instrument rules, which allows flying in lower weather limits. The cabin gives full access to the patient. Nurses and paramedics on the crew hold advanced life support and flight certifications.

Who it is for

The service is for patients who need critical care, who must reach specialist care fast, or who live where ground transport cannot reach them. It serves people across Iowa. Air Med says it does not sell memberships, and it offers patient advocates to help with billing after a flight.

Facts

• Type: hospital programme of MercyOne, a health system in Iowa
• Aircraft operator: Air Methods
• Accreditation: fully accredited by CAMTS, as stated on the programme page
• Teams: flight crew, neonatal team and maternal team