Feature Story
Health Center Today, July 22, 2010
LIFE STAR Celebrates 25th Anniversary and Thanks Health Center for Years of Cooperation
By Carolyn Pennington
Pictured from left are LIFE STAR’S Dr. Lauri Bolton and Chief Flight Nurse Lisa Graziano presenting plaque to the Health Center’s Fire Department Captain Christopher Brewer and Chief of the Emergency Department Dr. Robert Fuller.
LIFE STAR is celebrating 25 years of service to the people of Connecticut. The critical care helicopter service has completed many requests for UConn Health Center patients and has often worked with the UConn paramedics. Life Star’s Dr. Lauri Bolton, assistant medical director, and Lisa Graziano, chief flight nurse, recently presented Health Center emergency staff a plaque to thank them for their years of partnership and cooperation.
LIFE STAR transports approximately 1,200 patients per year and its service area stretches out to a 150 mile radius from each base. A pilot, a flight nurse and a flight respiratory therapist are onboard the aircraft for every mission.
The Hartford Hospital LIFE STAR air medical transport program began in 1985 with one aircraft. A second aircraft was added in 1989 with one aircraft relocated to Norwich’s Backus Hospital in 1999.
Over the last 25 years, LIFE STAR has completed missions to every hospital in the state and has partnered with many EMS/police and fire departments to facilitate critical care transport directly from the scene to a trauma center. There is no charge to request LIFE STAR, only the patient is billed if transported.