In Maine, a new approach to practicing medicine in the sky

Air medical service comes with high risks, high costs, and staffing struggles. To reduce turnover and serve rural patients, LifeFlight of Maine is putting the needs of healthcare workers first.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3875x2584+0+0/resize/3875x2584!/quality/85/format/webp/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Faf%2Fb0%2F3f6e14cb4c33b4c784b12013ff0a%2Flifeflight-7086.jpg' alt='Flight nurse Denise Saucier begins loading a stretcher and equipment into a helicopter on the tarmac at LifeFlight of Maine's Bangor headquarters. It takes only a few minutes for the crew to prepare for takeoff.'/><p>Air medical service comes with high risks, high costs, and staffing struggles. To reduce turnover and serve rural patients, LifeFlight of Maine is putting the needs of healthcare workers first. <br></p><p>(Image credit: Elaine Appleton Grant for NPR)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6017801' />