CareFlite is a nonprofit ambulance service based in

Grand Prairie Grand Prairie is a city in Dallas, Tarrant, and Ellis counties of Texas, in the United States. It is part of the Mid-Cities region in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It had a population of 175,396 according to the 2010 census, making it th ...

, Texas which operates throughout North and Central Texas. CareFlite's original namesake service is helicopter air ambulance, though today it also performs fixed-wing and ground transport. CareFlite's Board of Directors includes representatives from Texas Health Resources, Methodist Health System, Baylor Scott & White Health Care System, Parkland Health & Hospital System, Parkland Health and Hospital System, and the JPS Health Network.

History

CareFlite began operations in 1979. It originated with one helicopter, a Bell 206, Bell 206L, which was shared between Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital. CareFlite augmented their air ambulance service with ground operations in 1981.

Fleet

Current aircraft

CareFlite N429CF at Old Parkland Memorial Hospital ER garage helipad

CareFlite currently operates six helicopters, one fixed-wing aircraft, and several ground ambulances. * 2 Bell 429 GlobalRanger, Bell 429 * 4 Bell 407, Bell 407GX * 1 Beechcraft King Air, Beech C90

Former aircraft

* AgustaWestland AW109, Agusta AW109 * Bell 222/230, Bell 222UT * Bell 206L CF407Granbury

Operations

Helicopter flight crew

Each CareFlite helicopter is staffed by a pilot, a nurse, and a paramedic meeting the following minimum requirements:

Pilot

* Air transport pilot, ATP Rotorcraft Certification * 2500 hours helicopter total time * 500 turbine flight hours * 200 unaided night-flight hours

Nurse

* At least five years emergency room and/or intensive care unit experience * Paramedic license or certification * Certified Flight Registered Nurse, CFRN * Advanced cardiac life support, ACLS * Advanced trauma life support, ATLS or TPATC * Pediatric advanced life support, PALS * S.T.A.B.L.E. * Neonatal Resuscitation Program, NRP Paramedic * At least 5 years progressive 9-1-1 experience * FP-C * ACLS * ATLS or TPATC * PALS * S.T.A.B.L.E. * NRP

Bases of operation

Helicopter

* Methodist Dallas Medical Center * Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital * McKinney National Airport * North Texas Medical Center * Granbury Regional Airport * Whitney, Texas * Burnet, Texas

Fixed-wing

* Grand Prairie Municipal Airport

Ground

* Collin County, Texas, Collin County * Dallas County, Texas, Dallas County * Denton County, Texas, Denton County * Ellis County, Texas, Ellis County * Erath County, Texas, Erath County * Hill County, Texas, Hill County * Johnson County, Texas, Johnson County * Kaufman County, Texas, Kaufman County * Palo Pinto County, Texas, Palo Pinto County * Parker County, Texas, Parker County

Accidents

* On September 3, 2003, a CareFlite AW109 lost power while taking off from the Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The pilot aborted the takeoff, forcing the aircraft onto its side on the helipad to avoid going over the side of the building. The pilot was injured in the crash. * On June 2, 2010, a CareFlite 222 was undergoing a post-maintenance flight near Midlothian, Texas when it broke up in the air. The pilot and the mechanic on board were both killed in the crash. The probable cause was found to be fracture of a swashplate drive pin. * On September 30, 2012, a CareFlite AW109 dispatched on mission entered IFR conditions, shortly thereafter descending from the clouds. The aircraft impacted the ground at a level attitude, skidded and landed on its side. The three crew members were seriously injured.

Memberships

As with some other air ambulance services, CareFlite offers yearly memberships to cover transport costs not paid by medical insurance. The membership costs are charged per household. This includes helicopter, ground, and most fixed-wing transport costs.

Fixed-wing transport

If insurance deems a fixed-wing transport usage not medically necessary or denies claim, the member is responsible 50% of the charges.

Partnership with Air Methods

CareFlite has membership reciprocity with Air Methods, a large helicopter company which operates many air ambulance programs throughout the United States. This allows members of Air Methods and CareFlite to benefit from their memberships if they require air medical transport in either companies' respective areas of operation.

References

{{Reflist

External links

CareFlite website

Bringing Health and Hope – CareFlite Texas
__FORCETOC__ Air ambulance services Air ambulance services in the United States Healthcare in Texas