WORCESTER—UMass Memorial Health’s new ambulance dubbed “Life Flight 3” is essentially an intensive care unit on wheels.
Built in collaboration with Coastal Medical Transportation Systems (CMTS), the critical care transport vehicle brings life flight helicopter services to the ground.
It is used when bad weather conditions, patient size, too much technology needed for treatment, and other restrictions prohibit medical helicopters from flying.
“This is a big deal for us,” Michael Pieretti, chief quality officer for Coastal Medical Transportation Systems, told the Worcester Guardian. “It’s analogous to UMass having an ICU on the ground. This is a whole different ballgame for patients and crew in terms of safety, work space and what it means for patients’ care.”
The idea for the custom-designed ambulance for the sickest patients began before Coastal Medical acquired Transformative Healthcare’s Massachusetts medical transportation arm in December 2022. With preliminary designs in hand after the takeover, the company began “in earnest to get the project up and running,” according to Pieretti, who is also a paramedic.
Life Flight 3’s size accommodates a large compartment for patients, custom designed cabinets, as well as ample room for crucial medical devices like monitors, balloon pumps and respiratory equipment to support patients on ventilators and with numerous IV infusions to sustain life.
The ambulance also has a powered stretcher and power load system to help with onboarding and securing patients of all sizes and with multiple pieces of equipment to reduce risk of injury.
According to a press release from UMass Medical, Life Flight 3 is equipped with large quantities of oxygen for extended distances, periods of time and those requiring high delivery settings.
In addition, there are multiple access points to oxygen and power throughout for equipment like a mobile transport vent and ECMO oxygenator and a specialty inverter to power specialty equipment such as a high flow heater.
“These are the sickest of the sick (patients),” Pieretti said. “They need intense care as they are being brought to larger hospitals or where their complexity of needs can be met.”
Pieretti noted Life Flight 3 it is a four-seater, with space for a family member or an additional clinical team member. The crew is comprised of a critical care nurse, paramedic, UMass life flight team member and a Coastal EMT, who operates the ambulance and assists.
Forty-five days of driver training were required to ensure safety, Pieretti said.
The ambulance will be based at the UMass Memorial Health University Campus at 55 Lake Ave. North.
Pieretti said the ambulance services UMass and the surrounding geography, but like the helicopter, will travel to Boston, Rhode Island and Connecticut, “wherever it is necessary.”
CMTS’s acquisition in 2022 included Fallon Ambulance Service and LifeLine Ambulance Service, expanding its coverage area to Central Mass., as well as the Cape and the Islands, South Shore and Boston Metro.
The ambulance went live on July 31. Last month, representatives from UMass Memorial Health and CMTS celebrated its launch with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours of the vehicle.
The Life Flight ground critical care ambulance transports more than 300 patients annually, according to Pieretti.
“We have an excellent partnership with UMass,” Pieretti added. “We love working with them to transport patients safely.”
Susan Gonsalves is currently editor-in-chief of a mental health trade journal and a freelance writer/editor specializing in education, medical/health and business. She previously worked at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and has contributed to publications at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and College of the Holy Cross. At the Worcester Telegram, she covered the town of Leicester and wrote for Business Matters. She can be reached at smgedit@comcast.net
As the Worcester Guardian marks nearly a year of delivering free, independent digital news to our city, our dedication to this mission strengthens. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to support our ongoing commitment to providing hyperlocal news coverage to Worcester. Scroll to the bottom of our home page to sign up for our daily newsletter
