Operations Center
Overview  |  DataLink  |  MedLink

OVERVIEW:

Air Evac Lifeteam’s network of 74 bases across 12 states is centrally controlled and directed from the Operations Center at the company’s headquarters in West Plains, Mo. More than 73 Communications Specialists watch and communicate via satellite with flight crews, using real-time technology, resulting in superior oversight, operational control and management of a geographically dispersed service area.

Communications Specialists employed in the Operations Center are emergency medical technicians, paramedics and air communications specialists whose expertise further maximizes the prompt, safe deployment and turnaround time that patients need to improve their outcomes. Communicators have training in emergency medical dispatching (EMD) which enables them to give pre-arrival instructions, including immediate first-aid measure, how to perform CPR or control bleeding.

Augmenting its Communications Specialists, Air Evac Lifeteam has developed a number of initiatives and best practices which place it at the forefront of the air-medical industry. These include:

  • DataLink, consisting of 4 EMS experienced pilots who serve as virtual co-pilots and can provide pilots in the field with timely, accurate weather information to aid in making decisions about flying conditions;
  • MedLink, consisting of registered nurses with previous flight and critical care experience, to support flight crews from a clinical standpoint and facilitate interaction with the company’s medical directors on a real-time basis, if needed;
  • Company-developed weather reporting stations across its 12 state service area; and
  • SkyTrac® satellite tracking systems which provide each aircraft’s heading, location and air speed every 60 seconds.

Through a significant investment in its highly-skilled personnel and a capital investment of over $5 million in collaboration with technology leaders such as Avaya and Cisco, Air Evac Lifeteam’s Operations Center leads the air-medical industry with a centralized approach that facilitates tight operational control and rapid response, ultimately resulting in safe, reliable aviation operations and timely, high-quality patient care.