By CHAD COOPER
For 35 years, PHI Air Medical has been providing emergency air ambulance service to communities across Virginia, including Buchanan County, where rapid access to advanced medical care can make a life-saving difference.
The company recently celebrated the milestone, highlighting more than three decades of transporting critically ill and injured patients while expanding its reach to serve much of the commonwealth.
What began in 1991 as the Inova Medical AirCare Program with a single Bell 412 helicopter based at Fairfax Hospital has grown into a statewide network of six air medical bases. PHI Air Medical has operated the program for the past 23 years and now has aircraft stationed in Manassas, Fredericksburg, Leesburg, Front Royal, Harrisonburg and Culpeper.
The service responds to emergency requests from hospitals, emergency medical services and first responders, providing rapid transport for patients requiring specialized care. PHI Air Medical also serves Buchanan County and other communities across Southwest Virginia.
“For the last 35 years, our team of highly trained nurses, clinical members, mechanics, and pilots across Virginia has played a vital role in providing the highest level of specialized medical care to residents in their most vulnerable moments,” said Christopher Shaffer, program director at PHI Air Medical.
Shaffer said the company remains committed to working alongside hospitals, EMS agencies and first responders to provide critical care when every minute counts.
“We are immensely grateful for the trust placed in us by healthcare partners, first responders, and the community at large,” Shaffer said.
According to PHI Air Medical, the program has continued to expand its capabilities through advances in medical technology and specialized training. Flight crews are equipped to care for critically ill patients using advanced equipment, including intra-aortic balloon pumps, fetal heart tone monitors, high-flow oxygen systems, Impella heart pumps and veletri infusion therapy. Every aircraft also carries whole blood, allowing crews to begin lifesaving treatment before reaching a hospital.
The company said its clinical teams are trained to deliver evidence-based care during transport while working closely with hospitals and emergency agencies to improve patient outcomes.
Today, PHI Air Medical operates more than 80 air medical bases nationwide and transports more than 22,500 patients each year. Each base is staffed by experienced pilots, flight nurses and paramedics who are prepared to respond to emergency medical transport requests around the clock.
As PHI Air Medical celebrates its 35th anniversary in Virginia, company officials say they remain focused on providing timely, specialized care for patients across the commonwealth, including those living in rural communities such as Buchanan County, where air medical transport can play a critical role in connecting patients with advanced trauma and specialty care.
