UCAN - University of Chicago Aeromedical Network

07/23/2026

07/09/2026

Training that strengthens patient care starts with great educators. 🧠

A huge thank you to our Assistant Medical Director, Dr. Michael McCartin, for spending time with the UCAN flight crew reviewing the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in the prehospital and flight environment.

From identifying life-threatening conditions to helping guide critical decision-making in the field, ultrasound continues to be an invaluable tool for our crews. Dr. McCartin’s expertise, hands-on instruction, and commitment to education help ensure our teams are equipped with the knowledge and confidence to provide the highest level of care when every second counts.

We’re grateful for your leadership and your dedication to advancing clinical excellence across UCAN. Also, your ability to draw a picture of yourself as demonstration!

Thank you, Dr. McCartin! 👏🚁

06/17/2026

We’re starting to compile pictures for our 2027 calendar and are in need of your help!

Please see flyer attached! 🚁🚑🚒🚓🏥

05/15/2026

Thank you for your partnership and commitment to getting your patients to the closest trauma center as safely and efficiently as possible. Our thoughts are with the families and those impacted by this incident.

05/14/2026

May is Stroke Awareness Month! 🧠

NBC 5 recently featured an incredible story highlighting a young stroke survivor, alongside interviews with two of Tareq Kass-Hout and James Siegler discussing UChicago Medicine’s Comprehensive Stroke Program.

So, how does UCAN play a role in caring for these patients?
Time is brain... EVERY SECOND COUNTS! ⏰

Through a collaborative partnership between UCAN and UChicago physicians, protocols have been developed to rapidly transport qualifying stroke patients directly to Interventional Radiology from referring hospitals, while also initiating Code Stroke activation for patients requiring Emergency Department evaluation.

This streamlined approach has strengthened continuity of care and significantly reduced time-to-treatment for patients requiring interventional radiology intervention — helping deliver faster, life-saving stroke care when every second matters.

& remember the FAST acronym to account for warning signs and symptoms of a stroke
F - Face Drooping
A - Arm Weakness
S - Speech Difficulty, slurred/jumb
T - Time is Critical - CALL 911

Check out the clip below! 🤩

The World Health Organization reports that one in four adults are projected to have a stroke in their lifetime, which is up in the past two decades. NBC 5's Kate Chappell reports on how doctors in Chicago are working to reverse severe strokes in real time.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to the incredible moms of UCAN! 🌷🚁💗

Today, we celebrate the women who answer the call both in the air and at home. Your compassion, strength and dedication make a difference in the lives of patients, families and your own loved ones every single day.

From critical care transports to bedtime stories, school drop-offs to lifesaving interventions — you do it all with grace and resilience. Thank you for the sacrifices you make, the care you provide, and the example you set for future generations.

We are proud to have such extraordinary mothers on our team. Wishing all of our UCAN moms a Mother’s Day filled with love, appreciation, and well-deserved recognition. ❤️

05/06/2026

Happy Nurses Day to the incredible team that shows up every single day with skill, compassion and heart. 🚁

Behind every flight, every patient, and every critical moment is a nurse making a difference when it matters most. Your dedication, teamwork and commitment to excellence do not go unnoticed—and today, we celebrate YOU.

Thank you for the lives you touch, the comfort you provide and the strength you bring to our UCAN family. ❤️

05/02/2026

ECMO Transport: More Than Just a Flight 🚁 🫀

When a patient is too sick for conventional treatments, ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) can be a lifesaving bridge. But getting a patient on ECMO from one facility to another—especially by helicopter—is a complex, high-risk mission that requires precision, coordination, and teamwork at every level.

What is ECMO?
ECMO temporarily takes over the function of the heart and/or lungs, allowing them to rest and heal. Blood is circulated outside the body, oxygenated, and returned—essentially acting as an artificial heart-lung system.

Why transport on ECMO?
Not all hospitals have ECMO capability. Critically ill patients often need transfer to specialized centers for ongoing care, advanced interventions, or transplant evaluation.

What goes into an ECMO helicopter transport?

🧠 Extensive Pre-Planning
Every detail is mapped out in advance—patient condition, equipment needs, medication infusions, weather conditions, flight time, and backup plans.

👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️ Highly Specialized Team
Transport teams may include critical care paramedics, flight nurses, perfusionists, and physicians—all trained specifically in ECMO management.

⚙️ Equipment & Safety
Portable ECMO circuits, ventilators, infusion pumps, and monitoring devices must be secured, battery-powered, and ready for in-flight challenges like vibration, altitude, and limited space.

🚁 Aircraft Considerations
Weight balance, power requirements, and patient access all factor into choosing and configuring the aircraft. Communication between medical crew and pilots is critical.

📡 Seamless Coordination
Referring hospitals, receiving ECMO centers, dispatch, and flight crews must work in sync. Timing is everything.

⚠️ Risk Management
These transports carry high risk—patients are critically unstable, and troubleshooting in-flight is limited. Teams must be prepared for rapid decision-making under pressure.

Why it matters
ECMO transport expands access to lifesaving care for patients who otherwise may not survive. It represents the very best of collaboration, critical thinking, and advanced medicine in motion.

👏 A huge recognition to the teams who make these missions possible—bringing ICU-level care to the sky and hope to patients in their most critical moments.

04/30/2026

As always, thank you for your partnership and inviting us out to train for the communities we serve!

04/26/2026

Happy World Pilots Day to the best of them! Jon, Tad, Gary and Matt are the men behind the controls, they contribute to our culture of safety and without them we could not complete our mission! The entire crew appreciates you…and your ability to wrangle the flight nurses when needed! 🚁👌🏻