LifeFlight
Encyclopedia
LifeFlight is an air ambulance
service that operates in the Canadian
provinces of Nova Scotia
, New Brunswick
and Prince Edward Island
.
It is delivered under contract to the Government of Nova Scotia
's Department of Health by EMC Emergency Care Inc.. EMC Emergency Medical Care Inc. provides medical staff however the operation of the helicopter is sub-contracted to CHC Helicopter Corporation
.
LifeFlight is subsidized for Nova Scotian residents and no fees are charged to patients or sending hospitals or agencies in that province. Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick contract this service and may charge a fee to their residents. Fees are charged to non-Canadian residents.
of Newfoundland and Labrador
and the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
of Alberta
. STARS operated the service until 2001 when it opted not to renew its agreement with EHS, citing philosophical diffences over management and fundraising.
Under its new name, LifeFlight, air ambulance services were operated directly by Emergency Health Services
, an agency of the Nova Scotia Department of Health, until 2008 when EMC Emergency Medical Care Inc. won the operating contract.
EMC operates all ground ambulance services in Nova Scotia under contract for EHS and is a subsidiary of Medavie EMS Inc. which is itself a holding company within the Medavie Blue Cross
group of companies. Medavie EMS also operates all ground ambulance services in New Brunswick through its New Brunswick EMS Inc. subsidiary. Likewise, Medavie EMS also operates all ground ambulance services in Prince Edward Island through its Island EMS Inc. subsidiary.
From the start of the air ambulance service on May 13, 1996 to December 31, 2003 there were 3,682 LifeFlight missions.
transport. Most of the missions are for hospital to hospital transfer where the patient requires advanced medical treatment at another facility, usually at a major referral hospital such as the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
or the IWK Health Centre
in Halifax, or the Saint John Regional Hospital
in Saint John
.
To date, there are 82 helicopter-approved landing zones in Nova Scotia that are Transport Canada
certified with additional heliports located throughout Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Most of the time, in the case of a motor vehicle collision, the highway itself is used for landing and take-off. Numerous volunteer fire departments and Department of Natural Resources depots are also used in rural areas of Nova Scotia where rotor clearance permits.
LifeFlight uses one Sikorsky S-76-A
helicopter (owned and operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation
) as its primary mode of transport and a Beechcraft King Air 200
fixed wing aircraft as its secondary mode of transport.
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
service that operates in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
provinces of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
.
It is delivered under contract to the Government of Nova Scotia
Government of Nova Scotia
The Government of Nova Scotia refers to the provincial government of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867....
's Department of Health by EMC Emergency Care Inc.. EMC Emergency Medical Care Inc. provides medical staff however the operation of the helicopter is sub-contracted to CHC Helicopter Corporation
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
.
LifeFlight is subsidized for Nova Scotian residents and no fees are charged to patients or sending hospitals or agencies in that province. Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick contract this service and may charge a fee to their residents. Fees are charged to non-Canadian residents.
History
Air ambulance service in Nova Scotia was initiated in 1996 by the Nova Scotia Department of Health in partnership with CHC Helicopter CorporationCHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
and the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society
The Alberta Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society was formed in Calgary, Alberta to provide emergency medical care and transport to the critically ill and injured...
of Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. STARS operated the service until 2001 when it opted not to renew its agreement with EHS, citing philosophical diffences over management and fundraising.
Under its new name, LifeFlight, air ambulance services were operated directly by Emergency Health Services
Emergency Health Services
Emergency Health Services is an agency of the Department of Health in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.All ground ambulance and air ambulance service in Nova Scotia is contracted by EHS to EMC Emergency Medical Care Inc., a subsidiary of Medavie EMS Inc...
, an agency of the Nova Scotia Department of Health, until 2008 when EMC Emergency Medical Care Inc. won the operating contract.
EMC operates all ground ambulance services in Nova Scotia under contract for EHS and is a subsidiary of Medavie EMS Inc. which is itself a holding company within the Medavie Blue Cross
Medavie Blue Cross
Medavie Blue Cross is the business name for Medavie Incorporated, a non-profit Canadian medical care insurance company headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick....
group of companies. Medavie EMS also operates all ground ambulance services in New Brunswick through its New Brunswick EMS Inc. subsidiary. Likewise, Medavie EMS also operates all ground ambulance services in Prince Edward Island through its Island EMS Inc. subsidiary.
From the start of the air ambulance service on May 13, 1996 to December 31, 2003 there were 3,682 LifeFlight missions.
Operations
LifeFlight is a 24-hour, 365 day/year air medical transport service for emergency, neonatal, and inter-hospitalHospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
transport. Most of the missions are for hospital to hospital transfer where the patient requires advanced medical treatment at another facility, usually at a major referral hospital such as the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is a large teaching hospital affiliated with Dalhousie University. Administratively it is part of the Capital District Health Authority.-History:...
or the IWK Health Centre
IWK Health Centre
The IWK Health Centre is a hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia that provides care to women, children, and youth from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.-Location:The IWK Health Centre is located in the south end of Halifax...
in Halifax, or the Saint John Regional Hospital
Saint John Regional Hospital
Saint John Regional Hospital is a Canadian hospital in Saint John, New Brunswick.Saint John Regional Hospital is the largest tertiary care referral hospital in New Brunswick and specializes in cardiac and trauma care services....
in Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
.
To date, there are 82 helicopter-approved landing zones in Nova Scotia that are Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
certified with additional heliports located throughout Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Most of the time, in the case of a motor vehicle collision, the highway itself is used for landing and take-off. Numerous volunteer fire departments and Department of Natural Resources depots are also used in rural areas of Nova Scotia where rotor clearance permits.
LifeFlight uses one Sikorsky S-76-A
Sikorsky S-76
The Sikorsky S-76 is an American medium-size commercial utility helicopter. The S-76 is powered by two turboshaft engines, which drive both the main and tail rotors, each with four blades...
helicopter (owned and operated by CHC Helicopter Corporation
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
) as its primary mode of transport and a Beechcraft King Air 200
Beechcraft Super King Air
The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation . The King Air line comprises a number of model series that fall into two families: the Model 90 series, Model 100 series , Model 200 series and Model 300 series...
fixed wing aircraft as its secondary mode of transport.