Fixed-Wing Critical Care Transport

Facilitating air ambulance coordination, MedCenter Air can assist in prior authorization needs that most insurance and payer sources require prior to transport. The quote is inclusive of all ground transportation and privatized medical services at an ICU level of care.

Capabilities include:

• Maquet® Cardiohelp® pump
• ECMOVAD (ventricular assist device)
• IMPELLA®
• IABP (intra-aortic balloon pump)
• Nitric
• Initiate and carry own blood products
• Specialized billing procedures

The air ambulance capabilities allow for individualized adult, hybrid and neopeds patient care. MedCenter Air medical crew can care for up to 3 patients or isolette loads in addition to specialized transports such as IABP, ECMO, Impella® and VADS.

All fixed-wing transports include dual pilots operating a fleet of PC-24s and Cessna Citations. A designated 24/7 communications center is available for flight request

Complete this request form for Fixed Wing flight request.

MedCenter Air offers transport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for neonatal and pediatric transports. Team members consist of highly trained RNs, RRTs and critical care paramedics. The medical team has 3 to 5 years of extensive NICU, PICU and/or emergency medicine experience. Crew members hold multiple certifications that include BLS, PALS, ACLS, NRP, TNCC and STABLE. The team are required to obtain advanced certifications such as CCRN, CFRN, CPEN, C-NPT, NPS and RNC-NIC.

Services include:

• Airway management
• Ventilator management
• Umbilical line placement
• Chest tube insertion
• Needle thoracentesisExternal jugular cannulation

The neonatal/pediatric team also administers critical care medication, including surfactant and alprostadil®. This service provides twin transport capabilities, ECMO, whole-body cooling for HIE patients (Tecotherm®) and comprehensive, family-centered care throughout transport.

Specialized respiratory services include:

• Video laryngoscopy
• Nitric oxide
• Hamilton T-1
• Heated, high-flow O2
• Blood gas analysis

ECMO is one of the most advanced forms of life support available to patients experiencing acute failure of the cardio-respiratory system. ECMO allows time for the patient’s lungs or heart to heal by using a heart-lung machine to oxygenate the blood outside the body. Transport occurs by critical care ground ambulance or fixed-wing to an ECMO specialty center. Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center and Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital provide ECMO Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) for support of failing organ systems in infants, children and adults.

Each crew member is a registered nurse, registered respiratory therapist or paramedic with EMS certification. The medical crew are required to have 3 to 5 years of practice in an intensive care unit, emergency department or critical care setting. They also receive advanced training in aeromedical physiology, aircraft safety and transport protocols, as well as in operating rooms and simulation labs.

ECMO transport offers:

• 2 senior ECMO specialists and a dedicated air medical team (RN/RN or RN with RRT/critical care paramedic)
• Thoracic or cardiac surgeons, critical care physicians, and ECMO specialists are available 24/7 for on-site cannulation and stabilization
• Transport patients from any referring/receiving facility, including Atrium Health

Atrium Health is an ELSO®-designated Gold Center of Excellence, recognizing exceptional commitment to evidence-based processes, quality care, staff training, education, patient outcomes and satisfaction.

LifeShare of the Carolinas is the organ recovery partner to Atrium Health. Both are federally designated members of the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network.

Our staff are available 24/7 for emergencies and scheduled patient transports. MedCenter Air operates Pilatus PC-24 and Cessna Citation jets.

• Speed in excess of 420 kts or over 485 miles per hour
• Cruising altitude 35,000 - 39,000 feet
• Pressurized cabin at sea level up to 24,000 feet
• Capable of takeoff and landing at airports with 5,000-foot runways
• Redundant, onboard medical equipment
• One of the safest aircrafts in the industry
• Terminal Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
• Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS)
• Color radar (allows flight over or around inclement weather)
• Excellent long-range aircraft
• Patient weight limit is 300 pounds
• Clamshell door width is 36 inches
• 1 adult patient or 2 isolette transports

• Speed in excess of 440 kts or over 506 miles per hour
• Cruising altitude 45,000 feet
• Pressurized cabin at sea level up to 24,000 feet
• Wi-Fi availability
• Capable of takeoff and landing at airports with 5,000-foot runways
• Onboard medical equipment
• Terminal Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
• Terrain Avoidance Warning System (TAWS)
• Color radar (allows flight over or around inclement weather)
• Excellent long-range aircraft
• 2 pilots, 5-8 passenger seating, 1-3 patients
• Wide Cargo door, three emergency exits