Life Flight Network, which is based at the Aurora State Airport and is the nation’s largest nonprofit air ambulance provider, has been named Program of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services.
Among the 350 programs eligible for the award globally, Life Flight Network was selected as the top air medical program.
The award recognizes an emergency medical transport service that has demonstrated a superior level of patient care, management prowess, high-quality leadership, customer service, safety consciousness, marketing ingenuity, community service, and a commitment to the medical transport community as a whole.
Sponsored by Airbus, the award is considered the most prestigious award available to air medical providers.
“We are excited to have been chosen for this prestigious award,” Ben Clayton, Interim CEO at Life Flight, said in a press release.
Clayton called the honor a “testament to the hard work and dedication of our highly skilled clinicians, aviators, maintenance personnel, communications specialists, operational control specialists, and administrative staff.”
“They are the best in the industry,” he said. “Their unrelenting focus on patient care, safety, quality, and customer service is the reason we are able to provide access to life-saving care in the communities we serve.”
Life Flight has been in operation for over 43 years and employs approximately 750 people. Throughout Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Montana, the company has 25 rotor-wing bases, nine fixed-wing bases, two neonatal and pediatric bases and operates 30 ground ambulances.
This marks the second time Life Flight has been recognized as Program of the Year by AAMS, but Life Flight Regional Vice President Dominic said it’s particularly meaningful now, coming after a particularly challenging 18 months during the pandemic.
“Quality, safety, customer service, clinical and aviation excellence are hallmarks of what Life Flight Network stands for,” said Pomponio. “All of our employees are committed to the same mission: Saving lives through industry-leading care and transport.”
Life Flight will be officially recognized at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on Nov. 1.
