PHI Air Medical is celebrating the provision of 35 years of emergency air medical services to local communities across the state of Virginia. The Inova Medical AirCare programme started in 1991 with a single Bell 412 at Fairfax Hospital in northern Virginia and became a part of PHI Air Medical’s operations in 2003.
PHI rapidly expanded its emergency air services to communities and now serves the majority of Virginia from bases in Manassas, Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Front Royal, Harrisonburg, and Culpeper. Over the years, capabilities have been added including the newly formed Trauma Programme at Fairfax Hospital and EMS scene responses in Virginia and other surrounding jurisdictions. Clinical staff across all of the Virginia bases are trained to handle specialty equipment including intra-aortic balloon pumps, fetal heart tone monitor, Hi-Flow oxygen, impella, veletri, and all flights carry whole blood on board.
Christopher Shaffer, Program Director at PHI Air Medical, said, “For the last 35 years, our team of highly trained nurses, clinical members, mechanics, and pilots across Virginia have played a vital role in providing the highest level of specialised medical care to residents in their most vulnerable moments. We are immensely grateful for the trust placed in us by healthcare partners, first responders, and the community at large” .
