VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

The Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center’s Life Evac Program this month will begin flying its new, state-of-the-art helicopter, enhancing its 24-hour transport service for critically ill or injured patients.

Since 2001, VCU Life Evac has made approximately 600 flights per year in the metro Richmond region, and recently has expanded coverage to south of the Richmond area. The VCU Life Evac flight program is a partnership between VCU Medical Center and the Denver-based Air Methods Corporation — the largest air medical provider in the world.

Known as the Eurocopter EC-135, the new helicopter is a fully equipped, single-pilot, instrument-flight-rules aircraft with the latest in avionic technology. The new aircraft includes a two-axis autopilot, two global positioning navigation systems, weather radar with a moving map and three screens that display all engine and aircraft parameters. 

For increased safety, the aircraft is equipped with wire-strike protection, a traffic avoidance system and is night-vision-goggles (NVG) capable. This is the first medical helicopter in the Richmond region to offer NVG capabilities.

According to Robert Hamilton, VCU Life Evac program director, NVG technology has been used effectively by the military for many years and is quickly proving its efficacy in the civilian sectors. In addition, the helicopter is equipped with a retractable “night-sun” searchlight for increased search capability.

The helicopter has a newly designed air medical interior, maximizing room for equipment storage and patient care. The new helicopter, like the old, will continue to carry up to two patients simultaneously. It can fly up to two hours without needing to refuel.

VCU Life Evac is the only air transport service in the area that can handle a balloon pump and a biventricular pump at the same time in the aircraft if necessary. A balloon pump allows the heart muscle to rest and improves perfusion to the coronary arteries, while the biventricular pump supports both of the heart’s ventricles.

The VCU LifeEvac helicopter responds to inter-facility and scene requests within a 100-mile radius of its home base in Dinwiddie. The aircraft is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a specially trained flight nurse, flight paramedic and pilot. Along with their extensive backgrounds in surgical trauma and cardiac critical care, each member of the VCU Life Evac medical team also has been trained in the critical care of burn and neurologically impaired patients.

Life Evac will operate the new helicopter beginning this month. Life Evac’s current helicopter will still be used for backup transports when needed, and will be housed alongside the new aircraft in Dinwiddie. For more information, call Life Evac at 804.722.0914.