SkyHealth (Northwell Health)

SkyHealth is the nationally accredited air medical program of Northwell Health. It provides rapid rotor transport for critically ill and injured patients across New York and Connecticut. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.

SkyHealth brings intensive care to the air. Its aircraft carry mechanical ventilators, cardiac and invasive monitoring, a defibrillator, and pacemakers. The equipment also includes an intra-aortic balloon pump, an Impella device, and video laryngoscopy. Crews can transport ECMO patients and newborns in an advanced isolette. Fetal heart monitoring is available for single or twin fetuses.

Flight crews are dual credentialed in New York and Connecticut. The team is made up of paramedics and nurses with training in emergency, pre-hospital, and critical care. Crews have experience across many specialties, from advanced cardiac life support to neonatal care.

Crews practice quarterly advanced airway management and high fidelity simulation. They also train in night vision goggle flying and crew resource management. This training is part of a clinical and flight safety program.

The aircraft can fly nonstop up to 150 miles. Longer trips are possible with refueling and good weather. SkyHealth is available for any hospital in the Northeast region to transfer a patient into a hospital in New York or Connecticut. If the sending facility is in New York or Connecticut, destinations in other states are also available.

SkyHealth works closely with the Center for Transfers and Acute Coordinated Care and with receiving clinicians. This helps move patients to specialty centers in the Northwell system. The program uses helipads at seven Northwell sites. These are North Shore University Hospital, Cohen Children's Medical Center, Staten Island University Hospital, South Shore University Hospital, Peconic Bay Medical Center, Huntington Hospital, and Mather Hospital.

Services

• Air medical transport
• Critical care transport
• ECMO transport
• Neonatal transport
• Fetal heart monitoring transport
• Helicopter transport
• Interfacility transfers