Life Flight Network - Portland Oregon helicopter and fixed wing medical transport service

About Life Flight Network


Who We Are

Life Flight Network (LFN) is a medical transport service provided by a consortium of Oregon Health & Science University, Legacy Health, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, and Providence Health and Services. All are dedicated to improving patient outcomes by providing helicopter, fixed-wing, and ground ambulance support to seriously ill or injured patients in a safe and timely manner.

History

History LFN is one of the country's oldest, safest, and most respected air ambulance providers. Beginning in 1978 as Emanuel Life Flight, the program was the first hospital-based air ambulance on the West coast and only the 4th in the nation.

In 1993, Emanuel Life Flight merged with Aircare, a Providence Health System flight program. Emanuel Life Flight became the Life Flight Network. This merger and name change came in concert with the decision of the three largest health care providers in the Portland metropolitan area to jointly participate in the ownership and overall operation of LFN; day-to-day operation of LFN remained under the auspices of Legacy Emanuel Hospital & Health Center, until October 1, 2007 when LFN formally separated from the hospital structure.

To better serve its existing customers and to provide much needed air medical service to growing distant communities, LFN opened bases in Eugene, OR; Dallesport, WA; and Longview, WA in 2008. LFN's first ground based critical care ambulance was placed into service January 1, 2009.

In September 2009, Boise-based Saint Alphonsus Life Flight joined LFN. Founded in 1986, Saint Alphonsus Life Flight's reputation in Idaho and eastern Oregon is unparalleled. This merger helped LFN become one of the largest hospital consortium air medical companies in the United States.

Today, the consortium of Legacy Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Providence Health & Services, and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center own and operate LFN. The combined strength of these world-class health institutions ensures the quality of the program remains as safe and strong today as when it started 31 years ago.

Mission

The mission of the LFN is to provide critical care transportation to seriously ill or injured patients in a safe, compassionate, efficient, and expeditious manner in a fiscally sound environment and with a goal of positive and sustainable growth. 

Values

Life Flight Network exists to fulfill a vital role - saving lives. With its unique combination of air and ground ambulances and highly skilled personnel, we represent an integral part of local emergency medical systems. The safety of our staff is our number one value. Everything must flow from this perspective. Without a singular focus on safety, no one, internally or in our community, will benefit from our existence. Put simply, we must never forget our first mission is the safety and security of our people. Our teams must live by the mantra 'those who walk thru these doors at the beginning of the day will walk out these doors at the end of the day'.

Vision

While never losing sight of our present well-being and safety, we must also look towards the future with a vision of realizing positive and sustainable growth. As the population within our service area continues to expand so must our service. While expansion allows us to serve an ever-growing population, we must also envision the acquisition of technology and equipment to keep our fleet safe, modern, and efficient. Modern aircraft and vehicles operated by highly skilled pilots and drivers capable of safely operating in the conditions and terrain that surrounds us is paramount. * Night vision goggles, remote weather monitoring, terrain avoidance technology, and satellite communication are devices to explore and implement to allow our people to continue to deliver the high standards established by the Life Flight Network over the last 31 years.