Life Flight Network, the USA's largest not-for-profit air ambulance provider, has been named Program of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS). This award, sponsored by Airbus, is acknowledged as the most prestigious award available to air medical providers. Among the 350 services eligible for the award globally, Life Flight Network was selected as the top air medical programme.

“We are excited to have been chosen for this prestigious award,” says Ben Clayton, interim CEO at Life Flight Network. “Receiving the Program of the Year award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our highly skilled clinicians, aviators, maintenance personnel, communications specialists, operational control specialists and administrative staff. They are the best in the industry. Their unrelenting focus on patient care, safety, quality and customer service is the reason we are able to provide access to life-saving care in the communities we serve.”

AAMS president and CEO Cameron Curtis adds: “The Program of the Year is the most prestigious and sought-after of the AAMS Annual Community Awards. This year's honouree, Life Flight Network, met and exceeded every aspect of the award criteria; patient care, quality leadership, innovation, safety consciousness and community service. You name it, they've got it. AAMS is proud to have this exemplary programme as a valued AAMS member, and we send our hearty congratulations to the entire Life Flight Network team.”

The Program of the Year recognises an emergency medical transport service, both national and international, which has demonstrated a superior level of patient care, management prowess, high-quality leadership through visionary and innovative approaches, customer service, safety consciousness, marketing ingenuity, community service and a commitment to the medical transport community as a whole. Life Flight Network, a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) accredited programme, will be officially recognised at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Fort Worth, Texas, on 1 November.

Life Flight Network's selection for the Program of the Year award represents and showcases the commitment to a higher standard of transport medicine to the patients and communities across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West. Life Flight Network has been in operation for over 43 years and employs approximately 750 employees. Throughout Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Montana, the company has 25 rotor-wing bases, nine fixed-wing bases, two neonatal and paediatric bases and operates 30 ground ambulances.

“Today marks the second time Life Flight Network has been recognised as Program of the Year by AAMS,” remarks Dominic Pomponio, Life Flight Network regional VP. “Quality, safety, customer service, clinical and aviation excellence are hallmarks of what Life Flight Network stands for. All of our employees are committed to the same mission: saving lives through industry leading care and transport. Being selected as the Program of the Year recognises our staff for their hard work and excellence during an incredibly challenging year. We are grateful for the support of AAMS and the industry.”