UNC Carolina Air Care

Carolina Air Care is the critical care and emergency transportation agency of UNC Health. It is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. The service serves North Carolina and surrounding areas by air and ground. It was established in 1986 as an extension of UNC Memorial Hospital.

The service operates four helicopters and a fleet of ambulances. All of them work 24 hours a day. The helicopters are owned and operated by Air Methods, Inc., which is an FAA certified air carrier. Each helicopter is staffed with one nurse and one paramedic.

Helicopter bases are in Burlington, Aberdeen, Goldsboro, and Rocky Mount. The rotor wing aircraft respond to emergency scene requests and to interfacility transfers of critically ill patients. Ground advanced life support and critical care ambulances are based at UNC Hillsborough Hospital, in Aberdeen, and at the TriCenter office.

Ambulances carry the same medical equipment as the aircraft. They often have the same crew setup. A pediatric and neonatal specialty care team cares for the smallest patients. During air transports, this team includes a nurse and a respiratory therapist. Ground transports add an ambulance operator, who can be an EMT, paramedic, respiratory therapist, or nurse.

Flightwatch is the communications center. It receives requests for interfacility transfers and emergency scene calls. Staff triage patients and dispatch aircraft and ground units. They also coordinate arrivals and departures at the UNC Medical Center helipads.

The education team keeps staff current through continuing education, evidence based medicine, equipment training, high fidelity simulations, research studies, and new hire assessments. A logistics team handles equipment inventory, maintenance, and supply distribution. The service also offers landing zone classes and education lectures. Lecture topics include airway, burns, cardiac care, pediatrics, safety, and trauma.

Over the last 35 years, the service has transported more than 120,000 patients. The teams aim to bring the level of care normally found in an ICU or trauma unit to each patient, wherever the patient is.

Services

• Helicopter transport
• Ground advanced life support
• Critical care ground transport
• Pediatric and neonatal transport
• Flightwatch communications
• Interfacility transfers
• Emergency scene response
• Landing zone classes
• Education lectures
• Logistics and equipment support