Department of Emergency Medicine

Aeromedical and EMS

HealthNet is West Virginia’s emergency transportation system and consists of five helicopters. HealthNet I is stationed and operated by West Virginia University Emergency Department. The crew consists of a pilot, flight nurse, and paramedic. HealthNet I ’s primary coverage is a 150-mile radius around Morgantown. However, it can respond to any emergency in the entire state if needed. HealthNet I has been in operation for over 21 years. A policy contributing to this impressive safety record requires the pilot’s approval on all mission requests based solely on weather conditions and without being told of the patient’s problem or condition. In addition, any member of the HealthNet crew may abort the mission if he or she feels unsafe at any point in the flight. HealthNet I receives numerous requests but cannot accept all, due mainly to weather and helicopter maintenance, and averages 80 completed missions per month.

During the flight elective, EM R3's fly onboard HealthNet I as flight physicians. They gain valuable pre-hospital experience in the management of critical patients on-site. Being a flight physician serves as a golden opportunity to perform emergency medicine procedures and gain knowledge about EMS.

The Medical Command Center (MedCom) is located in the WVU emergency department and is staffed by both WVU EM faculty and residents. It is responsible for communicating and giving orders to the HealthNet I and EMS ambulance crews. There are 28 counties in West Virginia that MedCom covers. Residents staff these MedCom calls as PGY-2 and -3.