A new name in emergency air medical service is spreading across the Lone Star State as three established sister programmes unite under a shared brand: AirLife Texas. AirLift Texas in New Braunfels, San Antonio AirLife in Uvalde, and Native Air in Snyder now share a single identify while continuing their commitment to delivering lifesaving care. All three bases are part of Air Methods.

“Transitioning these bases to the same programme name helps to clarify the emergency air medical ecosystem we maintain across the state,” says Tony Fleming, regional vice president with Air Methods. “Our clinicians provide the highest level of critical care, and by having the same name, patients know they will receive that exceptional standard of care even when visiting other parts of the state.”

The AirLife Texas bases in Snyder and Uvalde fly Bell 407 helicopters to serve the people of western and southern Texas, while the base in New Braunfels operates a Pilatus PC-12 fixed wing aircraft, transporting patients throughout the Hill Country, Rio Grande Valley and beyond when they need to travel farther distances for specialised care or when weather conditions prevent helicopter flight.

“We are excited to have these three bases operating under the AirLife Texas name,” comments Air Methods area manager Joel Ramirez. “It will help the communities we serve understand the scope and scale of the programme so they know, should the need arise, they are receiving the best possible care in the air.”

The highly trained flight nurses and paramedics aboard every AirLife Texas flight are equipped to transport paediatric, high-risk obstetrics, cardiac, stroke and other patients with a wide variety of critical care needs. They carry specialised medical equipment, as well as whole blood that can be administered in-flight for patients suffering significant blood loss and at risk for haemorrhagic shock, which causes the body's organs to fail and can lead to death.

Air Methods is dedicated to serving the people of Texas and beyond. The company is in-network with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and most major health insurance providers. Additionally, the Air Methods patient advocacy programme works with all patients, regardless of insurance status, to help ensure the affordability of air medical services. Patients do not need a membership to be transported by any air medical company.