Since 1984, Ochsner Flight Care has been dedicated to the safe and expeditious treatment and transport of critically ill or injured patients of all ages. Our 24/7 Emergency/Critical Care Transport Team works diligently to ensure and deliver the highest quality out-of-hospital critical care.
Our around-the-clock communication hub, the Patient Flow Center, coordinates and dispatches transport services for critically ill neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients. We utilize a full range of transport modalities — including helicopter, ground-based emergency units, and fixed-wing aircraft — depending on patient needs and mission requirements. Helicopter transports typically provide an immediate response radius from Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, while ground and fixed-wing assets expand our reach and operational flexibility. We are a bedside-to-bedside critical care transport service along with providing 911 response to the region.
Our Flight Team consists of highly skilled, specially trained Registered Nurses (dual-licensed as EMS Practitioners) and Registered Respiratory Therapists, all with advanced credentials in their respective fields. Every transport is staffed with two clinicians, each with a minimum of three to five years of critical care/emergency medicine experience. Our Medical Crew Members hold certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), as well as many other nationally recognized critical care certifications. Many team members hold instructor status for the above-mentioned certifications. Physicians and specialty staff are available to accompany the flight teams, if necessary.
In November 2007, Ochsner Flight Care became an important part in the development of the service end of the Ochsner Pediatric Hotline. The Ochsner Pediatric Hotline is a dedicated service available to the Gulf South Region for the rapid movement of the ill or injured pediatric patient. When the call is received from the outlying hospitals and clinics, our Patient Flow Center rapidly connects the calling physician with an Ochsner Pediatric Intensive Care Physician. This service allows the sending and receiving physicians to quickly develop a plan for the pediatric patient's treatment and transport to Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans.
The Patient Flow Center is staffed by highly skilled communication specialists. Our communication specialists have many Flight Care responsibilities. Specialists primarily arrange and coordinate the appropriate transportation mode according to the patients' medical needs. Other duties include staffing the Ochsner Pediatric Hotline and gathering pertinent information and specialty equipment needed for efficient patient transport.
Ochsner Flight Care is licensed by the Department of Emergency Medical Authority of the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
The Board of Directors of the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems has accredited the service as follows: Critical Care-Full Accreditation for Rotor Wing and Surface in New Orleans, Louisiana.
To arrange a patient transport call: 1-888-551-4662 or 504-842-3213
For all interfacility pediatric calls: 1-866-985-PEDS (7337) or 504-842-PEDS (7337)
Part 135 Services Provided By Metro Aviation
