South Bend-based Beacon Health System announced Memorial MedFlight is partnering with Air Methods, effective May 2025.
Air Methods provides air medical transport services. The partnership transitions Memorial MedFlight to an alternative delivery model service, enhancing its goal of efficiently transporting critically ill or injured patients to the care they need.
“By combining our aviation expertise with Beacon Health System’s exceptional medical care, this partnership ensures that patients in the Region will receive the highest standard of air medical transport services,” said JaeLynn Williams, Air Methods CEO, in a press release. “Together, we are committed to advancing safety, efficiency and compassion in every mission we undertake.”
For many years, Memorial MedFlight has supported the Level II Trauma Center at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. This partnership builds on that support, ensuring patients receive care during emergency scene responses and inter-facility transports.
“Our passion goes beyond saving lives; it’s about improving them,” Greg Piper, Beacon Health vice president of retail operations, said.
Established in 1980, Air Methods operates from more than 250 bases across the country. It provides more than 100,000 lifesaving transports annually. Air Methods’ fleet of owned, leased, or maintained aircraft features about 400 helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.
Under the agreement, Air Methods will oversee aircraft operations, maintenance and communications support. Beacon will provide the medical crews. Operating from Elkhart Municipal Airport, Memorial MedFlight will continue providing its 24/7 service, staffed by trained flight nurses and paramedics.
Crew members will have access to Air Methods Ascend’s in-person and online education programs, which include a cadaver lab and SimX training. Air Methods Ascend provides clinicians with access to educators, tools and technologies. The education programs include advanced simulation and virtual reality training through SimX that mirror real-world patient care scenarios.
Beacon Health System serves patients in Northwest Indiana and Southern Michigan. The health care network includes Beacon Children’s Hospital, Beacon Granger Hospital, Community Hospital of Bremen, Elkhart General Hospital, Epworth Hospital, Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Three Rivers Health, Beacon Medical Group, Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program, Beacon Health Foundation and Beacon Health & Fitness. Beacon Health has more than 1,000 physicians and providers.
