Life Flight Network's New High-Tech Ground Ambulances Ready to Assist Saint Alphonsus Health System with Emergency Medical Transports

Mercedes Sprinter 2500 High Roof Ambulance provides the highest levels of patient and crew safety and medical support, fuel efficiency, and overall economy.

August 29, 2012 – Aurora, OR… Life Flight Network (LFN), a not-for-profit medical transport service in the Northwest and Intermountain West, announced today that two new high-tech, environmentally-friendly and economical Mercedes Sprinter 2500 ambulances will be operating in the Treasure Valley in time for the Labor Day weekend. These ground ambulances replace older models and incorporate designs that have been utilized in Europe for a number of years, but are still new to the United States. “LFN is continuously focused on finding ways to elevate the overall quality of patient care and these new ground ambulances are designed to meet that objective in conjunction with Saint Alphonsus Health System,” states Michael Griffiths, Chief Executive Officer of LFN.

These Mercedes 2500 ground ambulances will be used on a regular basis for transporting ill or premature newborn infants and their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) teams between medical facilities in different communities. They will also be called into service for a variety of additional medical transport needs, including patient transports from a clinic or hospital to another facility providing specific medical expertise needed for the best possible outcome. They are also used for safe and efficient psychiatric-related transports and ground transports needed to an airport for an emergent fixed-wing medical flight, many times with a flight nurse and flight paramedic in the vehicle to provide the fastest transport and highest level of critical care.

General highlights provided by LFN’s new ground ambulances include:

• Economical purchase and retrofitting costs
• Substantial safety and medical support features
• Special stabilizers and vibration absorbers for a smoother, safer ride
• Low emission output engine
• Real-time GPS locater that communicates with dispatch center
• TEMPMATIC air conditioning system

Selected benefits for medical crew and patients

• Additional headroom for ease of movement
• Dual swiveling and front-facing lockable seats for medical crew safety
• Rear doors with special hinges – allowing them to open to 90 degrees and up to 260 degrees
• Illuminated exits and two halogen scene lights per side
• Back-up camera system for safer positioning
• Hospital grade electric outlets and medical plumbing, air pressure and aspirators

LFN has provided medical transport service for more than 34 years and is a recent recipient of the Air Medical Transport Program of the Year award. LFN is owned by a consortium of four of the nation’s most prestigious health systems. These owners include Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Providence Health System-Oregon, and Oregon Health & Science University. The depth of experience and support provided by the owners helps to ensure the company remains at the leading edge of healthcare evolution and progress. LFN currently has a combined fleet of 14 medical helicopters, five fixed-wing aircraft and four ground ambulances in Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

About Life Flight Network:

Life Flight Network, a not-for-profit air medical service, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). Life Flight Network has administrative offices in Aurora, Oregon and is owned by a consortium of Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, Providence Health System-Oregon, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center and Oregon Health &Science University. Rotor-wing services are provided by Air Methods Corporation. Fixed-wing services are provided by Aero Air, LLC, AvCenter, and Conyan Aviation. For more information about Life Flight Network, visit www.lifeflight.org.