Some medical issues are so severe and so critical that travel to the emergency room by air, with medical staff offering their assistance during the trip, is the only way to preserve life. At Great Plains Health, we can offer that form of assistance with the LifeNet air ambulance.
Our highly trained flight crew serves the critical-care air transportation needs of central Nebraska, northern Kansas and southern South Dakota.
Who needs an air ambulance?
Our air ambulance program is designed to help people facing life-threatening illnesses or injuries, such as:
- Heart attacks.
- Pregnancy complications.
- Severe breathing difficulties.
- Strokes.
- Traumatic injuries to the chest, pelvis or joints.
Our medevac team can come to the scene of an illness or injury and take you to the emergency room, and our team can transport you from one emergency room to another, as needed.
Medical treatments in our air ambulance
The LifeNet air ambulance is a Eurocopter (EC) 135 twin-engine aircraft. This is the same aircraft that currently provides about 25 percent of the world’s total emergency medic service flights. Our EC-135 aircraft moves fast, so you can get to our emergency room quickly. But you'll also have access to medical treatments during your flight. Our helicopter contains:
- Heart monitoring equipment, including 12-lead EKG, pulse oximetry and CO2 monitoring.
- A balloon pump for cardiac patients.
- Medications that can decrease blood pressure and heart rate.
- Airway management tools to intubate people with breathing difficulties.
- Ventilators to help both adults and children with breathing difficulties.
- Drips and IV medications.
Our team follows strict medical and air-transport protocols, which are designed to ensure both quality and safety.
About our medevac team
The Great Plains Health LifeNet flight team has advanced, specialized training in helicopter transport. Our flight team consists of pilots, registered flight nurses and EMT-Ps with at least three years of critical care experience. Our medical director is board-certified in emergency medicine.
Our team is both passionate and personable. And they work in a collaborative partnership with Air Methods, the most experienced air medical transport company in the world.
Paying for emergency transport
Many insurance companies will cover a large portion of air ambulance fees, as long as your injury or illness is acute and requires timely treatment. But you'll need to check with your insurance company to verify your benefits.