TMC PULSE

t m c » p u l s e | a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 17 t m c » p u l s e | a u g u s t 2 0 1 4 tHe LiFe FLigHt LegaCy began in 1976, and ContinueS StiLL today witH an eMpHaSiS on deLivering tHe beSt poSSibLe Care to tHe CritiCaLLy iLL and injured Elevating Trauma Care B y A m a n d a D . S t e i n W hen the iconic red helicopters whir over the Texas Medical Center, they command attention. Their deliberate, methodical descent shows no sign of the stress of the scene that they just left. On the ground and in the air, the highly trained pilots, paramedics and nurses of Memorial Hermann Life Flight,® a nationally renowned air ambulance program, are saving lives every day. Their dedication is what Life Flight is all about, says James "Red" Duke Jr., M.D., founding director of the program. Duke, himself a trauma surgeon, knows what it takes to care for critically ill or injured patients. He has done it for over fifty years, including the fateful day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Duke was one of the surgeons who fought to save Texas Governor John Connally's life that day in 1963, and later went on to help establish the Memorial Hermann- Texas Medical Center trauma program in 1972. The hospital's air ambulance program would follow, four years later. Memorial Hermann-TMC is now home to the most active trauma program in the country. "We began Life Flight on August 1, 1976. We made three flights that day and 45 the next month," said Duke, who is also professor of surgery and the John B. Holmes Professor of Clinical Sciences at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School. "It has been a real privilege to be involved in watching the incredible commitment from the Life Flight crews and every- body involved in making this program what it is." "I think that what makes our pro- gram great is the quality of work that is executed on a daily basis from each individual fulfilling their responsibili- ties," he added. "They do it so well and with such dedication and commitment. we began life flight on August 1, 1976. we made three flights that day and 45 the next month. it has been a real privilege to be involved in watching the incredible commitment from the life flight crews and everybody involved in making this program what it is. — jAMEs "rEd" dukE jr., M.d. Founding director of Memorial Hermann Life Flight James "red" duke Jr., M.d. (Credit: Memorial hermann) Our mechanics treat those helicopters like a baby. The pilots, paramedics and nurses are all real pros. They are all just a great group." Today, the Life Flight crews trans- port more than 3,000 patients a year, operating 24 hours a day, every day of the year. What began with a sin- gle Alouette helicopter has grown to include a fleet of six EC-145 twin-engine helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft, operating on five bases across the Houston area, and serving commu- nities within a 150-mile radius of the Texas Medical Center. In addition to landing at the scene of an accident or incident, Life Flight also helps trans- port critical patients from one hospital to another. Memorial Hermann-TMC is home to the Texas Trauma Institute, a collabora- tion between Memorial Hermann and UTHealth. The hospital is one of only two adult trauma centers in the city of Houston, with the other being Harris Health System-Ben Taub General Hospital. The medical center is also home to two pediatric level one trauma centers, Texas Children's Hospital and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, the latter of which is housed within Memorial Hermann-TMC. "Life Flight is really a regional asset," said Texas Trauma Institute Medical Director, retired Col. John B. Holcomb, M.D. "Some people think we only transport patients to Memorial Hermann, but that is not the case. We take the patients to the closest location and the best place to go depending on the severity of illness both trauma and non-trauma for the patient's benefit. We do what's best for the patient." Each Life Flight helicopter is manned by a three-person crew that includes a pilot, flight nurse and paramedic. The pilots, many of whom have backgrounds as military pilots, are solely responsible for the safety of the aircraft.

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