LIFE FORCE Air Medical

05/02/2026

05/01/2026

🐾 Look Who’s Back on the Beat! 🐾

After speaking to Luca’s handler this morning we are happy to report he’s back in the squad car? K9 Luca is officially back on duty!

He’s easing into things on light duty for the next few days, so he may be caught "patrolling" for belly rubs and ensuring the station is clear of any stray snacks.

Sounds like he has missed the team (and the siren!) almost as much as they’ve missed him. While these next couple days is “light duty” his handler reports his spirit is as strong as ever.

Drop a "Welcome back, Luca!" below to let him know he’s supported and loved! 🦴🚔

04/29/2026

🚁 NOW HIRING: Clinical Educator & Clinical Practice Coordinator Positions Open! 🚁

Ready to elevate your career and shape the future of air medical transport? We are accepting applications for two critical leadership roles in our program!

We are seeking passionate, experienced healthcare professionals for:

Clinical Educator: Lead the training and development of our critical care flight crews and assist with outreach education. Mentor the next generation of flight nurses and medics.

Clinical Practice Coordinator: Works to maintain standardized evidence-based clinical practices, QA/QI process, and licensing to ensuring the highest level of patient care for our region.

Qualifications:
Job descriptions are posted on the erlanger.org/careers website to review and well as you can apply there.

All interested candidates should also email your resume/CV to Stacy.Prater@erlanger.org

04/29/2026

NOW HIRING!!

AEMT or Paramedic looking for a stable and reliable part time job? Want be a part of something special? Our EMS professional assists with loading/unloading the specialized isolet and provides transport for the NICU/Pediatric team. This part time position requires a commitment of two 12-hour shifts per week and comes with available benefits.

For more information contact Steve McBee at steve.mcbee@erlanger.org, or apply online at www.erlanger.org/careers

04/27/2026

04/27/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems will conduct an accreditation site visit of LIFE FORCE Air Medical on June 2-3, 2026.

The purpose of the site visit will be to evaluate the program’s compliance with nationally established medical transport standards. The site visit results will be used to determine whether, and the conditions under which accreditation should be awarded to the program.
CAMTS accreditation standards deal with issues of patient care and safety of the transport environment. Anyone believing that he or she has pertinent or valid information about such matters may request a public information interview with the CAMTS site surveyors at the time of the site visit. Information presented at the interview will be carefully evaluated for relevance to the accreditation process. Requests for public information interviews must be made in writing and sent to CAMTS no later than 10 business days before the site survey begins. The request should also indicate the nature of the information to be provided during the interview. Such request should be addressed to: ADMIN@CAMTS.ORG.

The Commission will acknowledge such written requests in writing or by telephone and will inform the program of the request for an interview. The Commission will, in turn, notify the interviewee of the date, time and place of the meeting.

This notice is posted in accordance with CAMTS requirements and shall not be removed until the site visit is completed.

Date Posted: April 27, 2026

04/25/2026

Remembering a Pillar of our Team

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of former LIFE FORCE Flight Communicator, Martha Rhoades, following a brief illness.

Martha was a fixture at LIFE FORCE for many years, serving in various roles throughout her dedicated career before her well-deserved retirement. To those who worked alongside her, Martha was more than just a colleague; she was a calm voice in the chaos and a dedicated professional who ensured our teams stayed safe and connected.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she helped save from behind the console and the many friendships she forged within the LIFE FORCE family.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Martha’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time. Rest easy, Martha. We will miss you. 🚁💙

04/24/2026

Many of you have been asking this week about the K-9 Challenge Coin and shirts, how you can support the K-9 Transport Program and if we will repost the link to purchase the coins and shirts.

The LIFE FORCE K-9 Transport Program Challenge coin and shirts was designed as a fundraiser to be able to purchase training equipment for the K-9 Program. This is a great collectable to have and a great way to help with purchasing K-9 specific training equipment.

100% of the profit from the coins goes directly to the purchase of that equipment and training supplies for this program.

If you are interested, we are sharing the link below.

Click the link you need below to order and pay. THANK YOU.. Orders will be shipped directly to you.

Challenge Coins:
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DTKPKZDHJE3H4

T-Shirts
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/UTFZ3WASNU8A4

04/24/2026

Safety isn’t just about how we fly; it’s about the gear that protects us. 🚁🛡️

Our LIFE FORCE Helmet Maintenance Team recently completed specialized, hands-on training with our vendor, Paraclete. The team performed deep-dive inspections, full tear-downs, and advanced maintenance techniques to ensure every helmet in our fleet meets the highest safety standards.

A huge thank you to Paraclete for sharing their expertise and helping us keep our crew protected so they can focus on what they do best: saving lives.

04/24/2026

LIFE FORCE CREW MEMBERS COMPLETE MEDICAL TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE COURSE

Chattanooga, TN – April Womac, Flight Nurse, Clinical Base Manager for LIFE FORCE 4, and Myron Schroepfer, Flight Paramedic, Clinical Base Manager for LIFE FORCE 3, has successfully completed the Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) course in West Virginia.

The CMTE course is an intensive 2-year program designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals who manage and oversee medical transportation services. The course covers a wide range of topics, including leadership, finance, risk management, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance.

With the completion of the CMTE course, April and Myron have gained valuable knowledge and expertise in the air medical transport environment. This achievement demonstrates their commitment to continuous learning and professional development, as well as their dedication to providing the best possible care to patients.

“I am honored to have April and Myron complete the CMTE course,” said Robbie Tester, Vice President of Mobile Medicine, Public Safety and EROC at Erlanger Health. “The knowledge and skills they have gained through this training will enable them to better service our patients and enhance the quality of our air medical program.”

April and Myron are now Certified Medical Transport Executives, recognized by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).

LIFE FORCE began operations in 1988 and currently has six bases of operations to, including: Cleveland, TN; Sparta, TN; Calhoun, GA; Blue Ridge, GA; Wi******er, TN and Murphy, NC. The LIFE FORCE fleet consists of four twin-engine IFR helicopters and two single-engine VFR helicopters. The program possesses a record of aviation excellence and safety. LIFE FORCE has also maintained accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).

04/23/2026

Update: K-9 Luca is headed home, back to North Carolina with his handler, Det. Steven Smith.

A huge shoutout to University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and their amazing work, as well as LIFE FORCE Air Medical for making history this week with the first K-9 officer flown for treatment in Tennessee.

We wish them the very best and a swift full recovery! You all are welcome back on Rocky Top anytime!

04/23/2026

K9 Luca Update

Thursday morning update from his handler.

Luca is wide awake this morning! Everything is looking great! Sense of smell is restored, lungs steadily improving (and will continue to improve.)

Ole boy is still tired and definitely is not 100%just yet but he’s still well on his way to a full recovery. Everything appears to be intact optically as well which was another big concern.

According to the team this morning, Luca’s final dose of medication will be administered at 1:00 this afternoon. After a brief observation, we are scheduled to depart home bound at 2:00!

Luca is going to have to take a couple weeks worth of sick days to fully recover with some medication a few times a day.