Stories from LifeFlight
Keep up to date with the latest news from LifeFlight of Maine and those we serve.
Dispatches shares stories from the patients, supporters, crew, and communities that make LifeFlight of Maine one of the premier air ambulance services in the nation. It is published three times each year by The LifeFlight Foundation. Download this issue as a PDF. Stories in this issue of Dispatches
On October 17, 2024, LifeFlight of Maine completed its 40,000th patient transport. Oliver White, who had a life-threatening congenital heart defect, was transported in a LifeFlight helicopter from Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital in Ellsworth to Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Max and April White never expected their son’s first flight to […]
Linda Varrell is President/CEO of Broadreach Public Relations and a board member with The LifeFlight Foundation. Being prepared is important, even critical, to success in most cases. It’s challenging enough to prepare when you know what to expect. But extend that challenge to an indeterminate number of possibilities, attempt to prepare for each situation you […]
LifeFlight of Maine’s mission is to provide critical care and medical transport to anyone across the State of Maine, when and where they need it. Every decision and every action taken is designed to accomplish both of those objectives as safely and effectively as possible. “Critical care” is a technical term that encompasses a broad […]
By Melissa Dufault In December 2024, flight nurse Melissa Dufault gave the speech below at 100 Neighbors Who Care of Penobscot Valley’s quarterly meeting. She offered her perspective about working as a flight nurse and what being a part of LifeFlight means to her. After her presentation, 100 Neighbors Who Care selected LifeFlight as their […]
If geography is destiny, must it be determinative of healthcare outcomes? Our role, as much as anything, is to mitigate the adverse influence of geography on patient survival. Or, to put a variation on the Maine phrase: “You can’t get there from here, but when you must, we can.” – Norm Dinerman, MD, Medical Director, […]
Leslie and Shawn Anderson have both a professional and a personal connection to LifeFlight of Maine. The couple is originally from Caribou, where for years Leslie served as the chief operating officer at Cary Medical Center. Her husband, Shawn, was the chief executive officer at Houlton Regional Hospital. Photos: Leslie’s father, Nathan Randolph (left); Shawn […]
Safety is a core value at LifeFlight, and has been since Day 1. Safety on the ground, and safety in the air. Safety for patients and safety for operations. Every department, every crew, and every member of the organization share responsibility for safety. This disciplined focus on safety is rehearsed and affirmed regularly. There are […]
Viking Lumber is a family owned and operated business serving communities up and down the coast of Maine. Over the past 80 years, the company has grown significantly, as has the Flanagan family who owns the business. Today, Viking Lumber has many dedicated employees and ten full-service locations, spanning from Warren to Machias. The Flanagans […]
LifeFlight of Maine recently promoted three of its medical crew members to the position of Clinical Educator. These more senior clinicians still regularly practice medicine on LifeFlight transports. They also now spend much of their time training newer crew members and sharing their expertise with EMS clinicians across Maine. LifeFlight of Maine’s medical crew are […]
