Boston MedFlight

BMF logo, mid-2016
MedFlight helicopter on Interstate 495 in Middleboro, Massachusetts

Boston MedFlight (BMF) (incorporated as New England Life Flight)[1] is a non-profit organization that provides emergency scene response and emergency interfacility transfer in Eastern Massachusetts at the Critical Care level, which is higher than a paramedic-level ambulance crew's certification, using both aircraft and ground ambulances.

BMF is headquartered at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, with additional bases at Plymouth Municipal Airport on the town line between Plymouth and Carver, Massachusetts, and Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Overview

The BMF medical team staffing model in all vehicles is one Critical Care Transport Nurse, one Critical Care Transport Specialist (Paramedic).

BMF nurses hold multiple other certifications such as Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) (within one year of hire if not already certified), Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) and/or Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN). They are also certified EMTs to comply with Massachusetts Department of Public Health ambulance staffing guidelines; both types of aircraft are considered ambulances by the Commonwealth.

BMF Transport Specialists (paramedics) similarly become Certified Flight Paramedics within one year of hire if they do not already hold FP-C certification.

BMF staffs and operates its own communications center at the Bedford headquarters. Communications Specialists are required to be Nationally Registered EMTs, or the Massachusetts equivalent; they are also expected to complete an International Association of Medical Transport Communications Specialists (IAMTCS, formerly National Association of Air-medical Communications Specialists or NAACS) Certified Flight Communicator course within their first year, course schedule permitting.

Their helicopter (rotary wing) and airplane (fixed wing) pilots are rated at the Airline Transport Pilot level, the highest level of pilot license; pilots have no medical duties during transport other than the safe delivery of the patient and medical team. The critical care ground ambulances are operated by Massachusetts-certified emergency medical technicians; in contrast to the pilots they will assist their medical teammates during transfers.

BMF operates one BK 117 C1, two Airbus EC-145 twin engine helicopters[2] helicopters, one Sikorsky S-76 C++ twin engine helicopter, six critical care ambulances, and a Beechcraft King Air 200.[3]
BMF transports emergency patients regardless of their ability to pay and is financially supported in part by a seven hospital consortium (as of 2017) of the following:

BMF is a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) accredited critical care transport service in all three transport modes (Rotor wing, fixed wing and ground critical care).[6] BMF was a founding member of the New England Air Alliance, now known as the North East Air Alliance, along with UMass LifeFlight and Hartford LifeStar.[7] The goal of NEAA is to enhance the safety of air-medical operations in the region through information sharing.

History

Citations

  1. ↑ http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N72EH
  2. ↑ http://www.verticalmag.com/news/article/Boston-MedFlight-orders-second-EC145-for-fleet-replacement#.UoBZwfltiTQ
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  5. ↑ "Lahey Hospital & Medical Center to Join Boston MedFlight Consortium".
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-29. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
  7. ↑ http://www.neaa.us/
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-01-07.
  9. ↑ https://www.massnurses.org/news-and-events/archive/2011/p/openItem/5903
  10. ↑ "Dr. Suzanne Wedel, Boston MedFlight CEO who advocated for cooperation among hospitals, dies at 60 - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2017-03-11.
  11. ↑ https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/04/03/suzanne-wedel-boston-medflight-ceo-who-advocated-for-cooperation-among-hospitals-dies/DooIkyH6Bsxxnn8ij0mRNO/story.html

Coordinates: 42°27′57″N 71°16′48″W / 42.4658°N 71.28°W / 42.4658; -71.28

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