If you are a referring hospital or EMS needing trauma transportation and assistance, call our One-Call referral line at 1-800-236-2066. Our dispatchers will help:
- Determine what emergency transportation is needed
- Transfer calls to the emergency department to help with physician acceptance for trauma transfers
One-Call also arranges medical transfers for:
- Injured patients to a Level I or II ACS verified trauma center, including the Theda Clark Level II trauma center
- Critically ill patients to specialized care services at ThedaCare hospitals or other care centers
Emergency Air Transportation
ThedaStar Air Medical provides helicopter transports and transfers for trauma patients and critically ill patients. Our crew of pilots and medical staff provide safe emergency care for:
- Critically injured adults and children from accident sites to the Level II Trauma Center at Theda Clark Medical Center
- Seriously ill or injured patients from local or regional hospitals to specialized care services at ThedaCare hospitals or other tertiary care centers
- Newborns needing specialized intensive care services to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin–Fox Valley, or other designated care facilities with Neonatal Intensive Care Units
Helicopter Features and Safety
Our ThedaStar medical helicopter is staffed by highly trained flight nurses, paramedics, pilots, and dispatchers. The 2008 Eurocopter EC 135P2+ light twin-engine helicopter is not only one of the quietest in the world, but it can also fly over bodies of water. It has excellent maneuverability and technology that ensures a smooth flight with minimum vibration. The helicopter can carry a pilot, two medical personnel, one to two patients, plus one observer or passenger.
ThedaStar has an exemplary safety record. The helicopter has advanced satellite tracking to monitor aircraft position, air traffic, and weather so that every flight is a safe one. Pilots have night-vision goggles for secure flying even in the dark.
Response Time
On average, it takes five to seven minutes from the time a call is received until lift off. Though flight times vary depending on distance and weather, the helicopter can often cover 25 miles in about 10 minutes. See the flight times and map for more information:
Safety and Guidelines
Find out when air medical transportation is needed and how to prepare for the arrival of the ThedaStar helicopter:
- Air Medical Transportation Guidelines (PDF)
Whether a patient needs air transportation can depend on the type or seriousness of the injury, the patient’s age and existing medical conditions, and more.
- Safety and landing zone information—Learn what first responders can do to help minimize ground time for the ThedaStar flight crew and help get the patients to needed care quickly.
Policies and Resources
ThedaStar offers opportunities to learn more about air medical transportation through ride-alongs and public events:
Aircraft operations provided by PHI Air Medical.