Our staff is comprised of a wide array of individuals providing different levels of medical care or supportive services but all have received extensive and in-depth training. Our staff are held to the highest standards and are required to maintain proficiency and skill that is not only equivalent but greater than industry standards. Additionally, our staff is required to undergo annual re-currency training based on their position. All of our professionals that provide patient care do so under the direct oversight and operating authority of our Medical Directors’ physician’s license. Our volunteer Medical Directors provide valuable insight, experience and feedback to our team for advancement and improvement on our current practices and skills.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
EMTs are generally the entry level into the EMS industry. They are considered Basic Life Support (BLS) and have successfully completed an approved course that is typically 150 hours in length. This includes both didactic classroom instruction and field internships. EMTs are trained in CPR and non-invasive procedures such as bleeding control, non-visualized airways such as oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways, oxygen administration of various routes, pulse oximetry, airway suctioning, the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED), splinting, emergency childbirth, and basic medication administration (such as nitroglycerin, epinephrine, aspirin, albuterol, intranasal Narcan). Also, EMTs can provide application of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices.
Our EMTs are required to maintain BLS CPR and International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) certifications.
Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT)
AEMTs are the intermediary level between EMT and Paramedic. They have successfully completed an approved EMT course plus the additional AEMT modules that is a total of approximately 250 hours in length. AEMTs are required to maintain the same skill set of an EMT in addition to having the ability of intravenous access, endotracheal intubation, end-tidal waveform capnography, Normal Saline fluid administrations, and additional medication administration of: Dextrose 50%, Dextrose 25%, Glucagon, Epinephrine in cardiac arrest patients. In some areas, AEMTs are also allowed to conduct basic cardiac monitoring.
Our AEMTs are required to maintain BLS CPR, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications.
Paramedic (EMT-P)
Paramedics represent the pinnacle of the EMS industry ladder. Paramedics are considered as Advanced Life Support (ALS) and have successfully completed an approved EMT course plus the additional Paramedic modules that consist of approximately 1,500 hours in addition to the EMT course. In addition to classroom didactic, Paramedics are required to have field internships, Emergency Room internships and in some cases Intensive Care Unit internships. Most Paramedic courses take between 1-2 years to complete. Paramedics are trained in all of the EMT skills while also adding to their skill set the ability provide advanced airway management including intubation, insertion of surgical airways, Medication Assisted Intubation (use of paralytics and sedatives to induce intubation), cardiac monitoring, 12 lead ECG acquisition and interpretation, transcutaneous cardiac pacing, manual defibrillation and cardioversion, fluid resuscitation, IO or intraocceus access (placing a needle in a bone to facilitate medication administration), and pharmacology with the ability to administer through different routes over 40 medications including narcotics, sedatives, and hallucinogenics. Additionally, Paramedics are trained to perform chest decompression which is inserting a needle into the chest cavity to reinflate a collapsed lung. Some Paramedic courses also supply the Paramedic with the knowledge to read X-rays and lab results.
Our Paramedics are required to maintain BLS CPR, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). We also encourage our Paramedics to obtain experience into Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
Flight Paramedic (EMT-P)
Our Flight Paramedics have accomplished all the requirements to be certified as an EMT-P. To become a Flight Paramedic, the individiual must have at least 2 years experience in a high call volume EMS transporting agency and we prefer critical care EMS transport experience.
Our Flight Paramedics are required to maintain BLS CPR, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). We also encourage our Flight Paramedics to obtain their CCEMT-P and FP-C certifications and additional experience into Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
Flight Nurse (RN)
A registered nurse (RN) is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program and met the requirements outlined by a country, state, province or similar licensing body in order to obtain a nursing license. An RN’s scope of practice is determined by local legislation governing nurses, and usually regulated by a professional body or council. Registered nurses are employed in a wide variety of professional settings, often specializing in their field of practice. They may be responsible for supervising care delivered by other healthcare workers including enrolled nurses, licensed practical nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, nursing students, and less-experienced RNs. Registered nurses must meet a minimum practice hours requirement and undertake continuing education in order to maintain their registration.
Our Flight Nurses are required to have more than 2 years critical care experience in an emergency department, intensive or critical care unit or other related fields.
Our Flight Nurses are required to maintain BLS CPR, International Trauma Life Support (ITLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). We encourage our Flight Nurses to obtain their Certified Flight Registered Nurse (CFRN) certifications with additional experience in Advanced Trauma Care Nursing (ATCN) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP).
Pilot
Our pilots are highly skilled and have excellent safety records, most with a background as U.S. Military Veterans. We require our pilots to have a minimum of 2000 hours in-aircraft flight experience including 100 at night. Our pilots operate under FAA Part 121 and 135 regulations and are instrument rated.
Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) Mechanic
Our A&P Mechanics are licensed to operate under the FAA Part 135 & 145 guidelines. This process takes seven steps to acquire including written, oral and practical testing. Our A&P Mechanics are comprised of privately schooled and prior military experience with several years operating on several different airframes.
Specialty Certifications
National Registry
(NREMT)
The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians is a U.S. certification agency covering pre-hospital medical providers. Most states use or require the NREMT testing prior to being able to obtain state certification. Providers wishing to obtain their NREMT certification must enroll in an approved course to their level (EMT, AEMT, Paramedic). Upon completion providers must take a computer based randomized question exam and show proficiency in a cognitive skills test. Upon successful completion, providers may submit their application for certification and are required to conduct pre-determined hours of relevant continuing education every 2 years in order to maintain this certification. This certification ONLY does not allow the provider to practice as they must obtain and maintain their state certification and education requirements.
Critical Care Paramedic
(CCEMT-P)
The Critical Care Paramedic certification program is an educational course offered to providers typically with more than 1 year experience as a Paramedic. Also, it is geared towards providers who perform inter-facility critical care transports in moving critically sick or injured patients from one hospital to another for advanced care and treatment. This course includes instruction in all common aspects of critical care assessment and management including pathophysiology, pharmacology, interpretation of laboratory values, interpretation of routine diagnostic images (x-rays, CT scans), ventilator management and monitoring extensive hemodynamic monitoring devices such as Swan Ganz catheters and arterial lines. It provides an overview of transporting patients with specialized devices such as intra aortic balloon pumps (IABP), ventricular assist devices (VAD), external pacing monitors and insight into air medical concepts. Upon completion of this course, providers must successfully pass a randomized written exam prior to achieving their certification.
Flight Paramedic Certified
(FP-C)
This certification is for Paramedics who have advanced knowledge of critical care medicine. There is no associated course for this certification although there are review courses and study guides available for self study learning. The FP-C certification is considered to be the most difficult certification exam often requiring previous experience in the air medical and critical care transport environment prior to taking the exam. The exam administered by the Board for Critical Care Transport Paramedic Certification (BCCTPC) is a two-and-a-half-hour exam consisting of 125 multiple-choice questions.
Certified Flight Registered Nurse
(CFRN)
This certification is the Nurse equivalency to the FP-C. There is no associated course for this certification but self study materials are available. To become a CFRN, a Registered Nurse must have intricate knowledge into the critical care and transport atmosphere and apply to take the 150 questions exam administered by the Board of Certification for Emergency Nursing (BCEN).
Tactical EMT / Paramedic
(EMT-T)
A course conducted over a five day period with more than 54 hours of instruction that is constantly revised and updated to deliver the latest tactical and medical practices for military and civilian personnel. These standards and latest medical standards have been established by the Committee on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and by the American College of Surgeons as outlined in Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) and TECC to provide the EMT/Paramedic with the skills necessary to support a tactical law enforcement team. This course covers advanced field medicine including chest decompression, suturing, cricothyrotomy and advanced bleeding control procedures. Performance of the above skills are perfected in the austere environment including “officer down” scenarios.
