During National EMS Week, Boston MedFlight Recognizes Role of Emergency Medical Services in COVID-19 Response

May 18, 2020 Boston MedFlight, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that for 35 years has provided critical care medical transport to patients in need by air and ground, recognizes its teams on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, during the observance of the 46th Annual National EMS Week, May 17-23rd.

As of May 18th, Boston MedFlight has transported more than 475 COVID-19 patients from local community hospitals to major tertiary facilities.  At the peak of the pandemic, paramedics provided emergency care for as many as 12 to 15 patients in a 24-hour period.  These are complicated, time-intensive transports requiring clinical expertise and advanced medicine.  Given their experience in managing the most severe cases in their daily work transporting patients, Boston MedFlight is uniquely qualified to handle cases involving COVID-19 patients and is the only nonprofit air and ground critical care transport service in the area caring for COVID-19 patients.
 
“The dedication and commitment of our teams during this pandemic has been nothing short of extraordinary,” said Maura Hughes, CEO of Boston MedFlight.  “We would like to acknowledge them and all of the EMS personnel in our area for their commitment to patients and their families during these challenging times.”
 
EMS Week brings together local communities and medical personnel to honor the dedication of those who provide the day-to-day lifesaving services of medicine’s front line.  Boston MedFlight is also acknowledging all Fire and EMS professionals throughout New England who put their lives on the line every day.  This week is also a time to educate the public on how the EMS system works and about the valuable and indispensable roles that all EMS service play in the community.

Boston MedFlight is the region’s primary provider of critical care medical transport by air and ground, caring for more than 4,700 patients annually, including the most critically ill and injured infants, children and adults.  As a nonprofit, the organization provides over $4 million in free and unreimbursed care annually to patients in need with little or no medical insurance.

About Boston MedFlight -
Boston MedFlight is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1985, and partners with a consortium of leading medical centers including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Tufts Medical Center.  For more information, visit www.BostonMedFlight.org.
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