Contact

Duke Health News

919-660-1306

DURHAM, N.C. – Duke Life Flight, North Carolina's first and
most experienced critical care transport system, is making
permanent the helicopter service it offers from Johnston
Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, N.C.

Starting Tuesday, Duke Life Flight will operate a dedicated
Life Flight helicopter from its current ground base at the
hospital.

"We are very excited," said Jeff Doucette, associate
operating officer for emergency services at Duke University
Hospital and program director for Duke Life Flight. "As the
population in this area continues to grow, so does the need for
higher levels of services closer to our patients. This new
helicopter base will allow us to reduce transport times to
major hospitals like Duke by almost half."

Duke Life Flight ground units long have been based at the
hospital, serving Johnston and surrounding counties. Duke Life
Flight operated a helicopter in Johnston County on a trial
basis for the past several months and recently received a state
Certificate of Need to provide permanent services.

The service initially will operate from 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
daily, with plans to expand to round-the-clock operations in
the near future.

Duke Life Flight critical care helicopters contain all the
equipment found in an intensive care unit and are staffed by
two critical care registered nurses and pilots highly
experienced in emergency care services.