UCAN Mission Statement
Our mission at UCAN is to serve the medical community; EMS and patients who need specialized care and rapid transport with superior health care, which is given in a safe, compassionate, and professional manner.
Scope of Care
University of Chicago Aeromedical Network (UCAN) is a hospital based emergency transport service that provides comprehensive emergency and critical care to patients during inter-facility hospital transport or directly from the scene of an emergency. We provide a multidisciplinary team approach with specialized skills and expertise in a variety of areas with the patient’s dignity and individuality in mind.
UCAN provides this specialized care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, serving a large multi-state geographical area. UCAN’s typical service area is within a 200-mile radius of The University of Chicago Medical Center. In addition to twin-engine helicopter transport, the on-duty UCAN crew also undertakes ground ambulance transports. While UCAN does not have its own dedicated ground vehicle, UCAN uses a local ambulance company when ground transport back to Medical Center is necessary.
UCAN crewmembers receive medical support under the direction of the UCAN Medical Director, Medical Control from Emergency Medicine Attendings, and established protocols. Each team member serves as an extension of the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Every interfacility and scene response flight is staffed with a specially trained flight nurse and flight physician. Critical care services are provided to adult, obstetric, pediatric and neonatal patients. UCAN ground transports will be staffed with a minimum of one flight nurse. A flight physician or nurse practitioner may also accompany the fight nurse on certain specialty transports based on triage criteria, availability of resources, UCAN procedures and clinical protocols. Specialty transports may consist of, but are not limited to, neonatal and obstetrical patients. UCAN is able to transport patients on an Intra-aortic balloon pump, ABIOMED ventricular assist devices, isolette, transport ventilators and inhaled nitric oxide.
All UCAN crewmembers are responsible for ensuring that patient transport is carried out in a safe, efficient, and professional manner, by maintaining competency and enhancing knowledge through continuing education, attending departmental peer reviews, and by meeting yearly departmental requirements.
Our challenge and primary objective — every day — is to provide the safest air medical environment and the highest quality patient care.