UnityPoint Health LifeFlight

Name: UnityPoint Health LifeFlight
Telephone: +1 800 987 2862

About UnityPoint Health LifeFlight

UnityPoint Health LifeFlight is an air ambulance service operating out of Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. It has been providing rapid air transport for critically ill and injured patients since 1979. LifeFlight transports patients from emergency scenes and between hospitals when specialized medical or surgical care is needed.

The service caters to adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients. It offers specialized services including nitric oxide ventilation, intra-aortic balloon pump support, bariatric transport, and obstetrics care. LifeFlight is equipped to carry blood products such as O negative packed red blood cells and AB plasma onboard to speed emergency treatment and improve patient outcomes.

The program operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Its helicopters include the EC 135 and EC 145 models. Both aircraft are shown positioned on the roof of Iowa Methodist Medical Center. LifeFlight covers a service area that focuses on central Iowa and the surrounding region, transporting patients to suitable hospitals based on clinical needs.

LifeFlight’s aviation services are owned and operated by Air Methods, Inc., a known air medical operator. The program holds accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), which ensures adherence to safety and quality standards in air medical transport. It was the first air ambulance service in central Iowa and remains an integral part of the regional emergency response system.

The service also provides educational classes for healthcare professionals and emergency responders. Classes cover topics such as airway management, trauma care, obstetrics, and neonatal care. LifeFlight supports public and professional educational events, helping improve emergency care knowledge across central Iowa.

UnityPoint Health LifeFlight’s mission focuses on improving community health by providing safe, evidence-based transport and education. Its vision is to achieve the best patient outcome every time. The service adheres to guidelines that ensure air transport is clinically beneficial and appropriate based on patient status and transport conditions.

LifeFlight maintains an on-board blood program to reduce reliance on referring hospitals and to speed critical transfusions during transport. This effort demonstrates their commitment to timely and effective patient care during emergencies.