LifeFlight Case Studies: Lessons Learned From Notable Flights

Air medical providers are responsible for the care of an incredibly diverse patient population. When it is time to transport a patient, providers must be prepared for complex situations, each requiring different skills, medications, and critical thinking. Scene flights will have providers landing and providing care in the prehospital setting where an interfacility transport requires the patient to be taken from one hospital to another. Specialty flights require special equipment, personnel, and aircraft preparedness to be completed. The case studies provided within this article highlight the complexity and diversity that is encountered each shift at Allegheny LifeFlight.