APFC

Program Leadership:

Program Director: Kathleen Mayer, MS, RN

Chief Flight: Nurse Teresa Elder

Chief Medical Director: Dr. Michael Brunko, MD

Vision Statement:

As partners with Emergency Medical Services and health care facilities, Flight For Life Colorado is committed to alleviating human suffering and enhancing the quality of life by combining excellent medical care with appropriate and safe transportation.

Mission Statement:

Flight For Life Colorado will provide excellent patient care and transportation by supporting a highly specialized team of self-managing critical care transport professionals who extend hospital resources into the community and are committed to personal and professional growth and participation in regional education and research programs.

Support for crewmembers:

Flight For Life believes that the suffering of our crewmembers secondary to vicarious trauma or post traumatic stress disorders is wasteful of their talent and a burden we should help them to avoid. We initiated our flight chaplaincy program to mitigate the effects of workplace-induced stress and reduce "burnout" and compassion fatigue. The flight chaplain provides our crewmembers with the opportunity to talk about their difficult experiences with a non-judgmental, supportive and compassionate person.

Program History:

Flight For Life Colorado was founded in 1972 by St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, CO and has been in continuous service for thirty-seven years. It serves a nine-state area with four helicopters, (Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Frisco), two fixed wing aircraft, (Englewood) and three critical care ground ambulances, (The Children's Hospital in Denver, St. Anthony Central Hospital, and Summit Medical Center, Frisco). The program responds to scene and interfacility requests.

Program in Action

1. DJ Head, lead paramedic for north state, engages a young visitor at a public relations event.