Lee County MEDSTAR is the critical care transport service, air and ground, which operates within the division of Lee County Public Safety-Emergency Medical Service (LCEMS). MEDSTAR provides specialty care medicine and safe transportation for the residents and visitors of Lee County and Southwest Florida during on-scene responses and inter-facility transfers. The air component of MEDSTAR is staffed with two critical care flight paramedics and an EMT/pilot. The ground component of MEDSTAR is staffed with two critical care paramedics and augments the air component.
Lee County provides round-the-clock air medical transport service to the County and surrounding counties on a mutual aid basis. Pilots are highly experienced in EMS helicopter operations and are holders of Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificates. They maintain IFR proficiency through a regular training program, insuring safe transports in times of unexpected adverse weather conditions.
The air medical transport program is a vital component to Lee County. While the primary role of MEDSTAR is to provide rapid transport of critically ill and injured persons, it is also called into service for search and rescue missions and plays a critical role in the search for missing children, swimmers, boaters and Alzheimer patients.
Lee County is bordered by 75 islands in the Gulf of Mexico with only four of the islands having bridge access to the mainland. Due to this unique geographic layout and other geographic challenges, Lee County established an air ambulance program in 1978. The first helicopter was similar to the one as seen on the M*A*S*H television show, and transported patients on litter baskets attached to the outside of the aircraft. This single engine Bell 47 helicopter traveled at about 80 knots. This helicopter was eventually replaced with a turbine-powered Bell 206, Jet Ranger. This turbine-powered jet helicopter, radio call sign, “Air-4” traveled at 120 knots, allowing faster transport of critical patients. The County's air medical transport program was further enhanced in 1990, when the Bell 206 single-engine was replaced by a new American Eurocopter BO105 twin-engine helicopter capable of speeds of 130 knots. The two engines and redundant, fail-safe hydraulic system enhanced the overall safety of the operation, and the ability to carry two patients and two paramedics. In May of 2004, Lee County received the American Eurocopter EC-145 medically configured helicopter and obtained our FAR, Part 135 certification in April 2005. This aircraft was lost in a crash on August 17, 2009. No crew members or patients were lost in this crash. At present, Lee County is evaluating replacement airframes and helicopters.
Lee County MEDSTAR Clinical Guidelines (April 2010)
a supplement to the
Lee County Common Treatment Guidelines