About Us
Lifestar is a critical care transport service owned and operated by Air Methods Corporation. Lifestar is a twenty-four hour, seven day a week air medical service established to facilitate the rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients. It is available for both scene response and interfacility transport. The Lifestar BK117 can be configured to accommodate up to two patients, ventilator dependent patients, intra-aortic balloon pump devise and an Isolette. Lifestar provides stablization and rapid transport of adult, pediatric and neonatal patients.
Our Medical Capabilities
- Rapid Sequence Intubation
- Advanced Airway Management
- Mechanical Ventilation
- End Tidal CO2 Monitoring
- Emergent Chest Tube Insertion
- Hemodynamic Monitoring
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Management
- Ventricular Assist Device Management
- Temporary Pacemaker Management
- Fetal Monitoring
Our History
1988 Omni Flight had the original vendor contract providing aircraft, pilots and mechanics to Loyola University Medical Center. The program operated as a 'Traditional Based' program, flying patients primarily back to Loyola hospital, a level one-trauma center, located in Maywood, twelve miles west of Chicago.
1994 Loyola hospital builds a state-of-art facility for the Lifestar program, replacing the more modest EMS helicopter base. The new base includes spacious crew quarters and a large, protective hangar, capable of housing two BK117s. The radiant heated helicopter pad is large enough to handle two aircraft. The pad is also equiped with an on site fuel system.
1996 Rocky Mountain Helicopters wins the bid for the vendor contract for Loyola University Medical Center and continues to operate as a 'Tradional Based' program.
2003 Air Methods Corporation of Peoria, Colorado, purchases Rocky Mountain Helicopters and takes over as the vendor for Loyola University Medical Center.
2007 Loyola Universtiy Medical Center sells the Lifestar program to Air Methods Corporation. The Lifestar program changes from a 'Tradional Based' to a 'Community Based,' flying patients from any hospital, to any hospital.
2007 A contract is signed to relocate the Lifestar program from its current location at Loyola hospital to the Joliet, Illinois area. This move will centrally locate the helicopter in it's primary service area making it a more efficient resource for the surrounding communities and EMS services.