Boston MedFlight Celebrates 35th Anniversary

February 4, 2020
At the dedication of the new Medflight hangar and headquarters at Hanscom Field in Bedford

 

Boston MedFlight was founded in 1985 as an air medical transport service by, and continues to partner with, a consortium of Boston teaching hospitals, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center.

Since its inception, Boston MedFlight has grown from one helicopter operating from a single base in downtown Boston to a comprehensive critical care transport system operating air and ground vehicles from bases in Lawrence, Mansfield, Plymouth, and its Bedford headquarters.  Boston MedFlight coordinates with these leading medical centers, as well as community hospitals and first responders throughout the region, to make the very best decision for the patient.  Boston MedFlight’s daily mission is to provide the right vehicle, air or ground, to the right patient at the right time and transport them to the appropriate facility.

“Patients encounter our Boston MedFlight staff on what is often the worst day of their lives,” said Maura Hughes, CEO of Boston MedFlight.  “I want to acknowledge our team — past and present, who have contributed to this significant milestone.  We look forward to continuing our nonprofit mission of providing the highest quality critical care transport system in this region for years to come.”

Boston MedFlight has cared for more than 77,000 patients since its inception and today provides critical care transport to more than 4,700 patients annually, without regard to insurance status or ability to pay.  As a nonprofit, the organization provides over $4 million in free and unreimbursed care each year to those patients who have little or no medical insurance.

One-quarter of its patients are infants and children, including fragile premature infants weighing as little as one pound.  With all its vehicles, both air and ground, equipped to serve as mobile ICUs and staffed with a critical care nurse and critical care paramedic, the team is recognized for its exceptional care and capabilities.

For 35 years, Boston MedFlight has been a leader in critical care transport, continually developing and adopting innovative practices and equipment to maximize safety and patient recovery and survival.  As an example of this industry leadership, Boston MedFlight recently launched The Boston MedFlight Transfusion Program, a cooperative venture with Brigham and Women’s Hospital permitting the storage, transport, and administration of blood products as needed to appropriately selected patients.  No other pre-hospital or critical care ground or air ambulance service in Massachusetts currently has blood products available in its vehicles.

About Boston MedFlight

Boston MedFlight provides critical care medical transport to the region’s most severely ill and injured patients with its fleet of helicopters, airplanes, and ground vehicles, all of which are outfitted with advanced medical equipment and serve as mobile intensive care units.  With highly trained critical care nurses and critical care paramedics, Boston MedFlight transports adult, pediatric, and neonatal patients with a diverse range of diagnoses, including medical, trauma, neurological, respiratory, cardiac, and obstetric.  For more information, visit www.bostonmedflight.org
 

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