Tennessee’s Vanderbilt LifeFlight has been named the air medical program of the year by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). The award recognizes an air medical program for a superior level of patient care, management prowess, and quality leadership. “After careful review of all the candidates for the program of the year, Vanderbilt LifeFlight rose to the top in best practices for crew safety and innovative patient care during its past 36 years of operation,” said AAMS president and CEO Cameron Curtis.
LifeFlight is operated by Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in partnership with Air Methods. Founded in 1984, the program has flown more than 40,000 patients. It employs 300 from eight helicopter bases in Gallatin, Tullahoma, Clarksville, Murfreesboro, Mt. Pleasant, Henry County, Humboldt, and Cookeville. LifeFlight also operates an airplane base at Nashville International Airport and 14 ALS ground ambulances, critical care ambulances, and communications and event medicine divisions.
LifeFlight was the first civilian air medical entity to purchase an IFR-capable Airbus Helicopters EC145 in the U.S. In 2015, VUMC partnered with Air Methods to provide aviation fuel, maintenance, aircraft, dispatch, billing, and EMS licensure. VUMC provides all medical staffing, patient care, and clinical services for Vanderbilt LifeFlight.