PR contact: Rob Seman
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MORRISTOWN, NJ – JULY 2025 – Flight paramedics and nurses from Atlantic Health are now able to transfuse blood as soon as they reach a patient and continue the infusion in the helicopter en route to the trauma center.
Atlantic Mobile Health and the blood bank at Morristown Medical Center, both part of Atlantic Health, developed the new program after the New Jersey Department of Health (NJ DOH) allowed hospital systems to partner with blood banks and implement a pre-hospital whole blood and blood component administration program.
Atlantic Mobile Health, which provides both ground and air medical transport services, operates two, state-of-the-art EC-135 helicopters which are specially configured for medical transport of critically ill or injured patients.
As one of the region’s premier medevac services for scene emergencies and interfacility transport of critically ill or injured patients, the helicopters are each staffed with a flight paramedic and a flight nurse, both of whom are board certified. These professionals provide some of the most advanced out-of-hospital medical care possible during the flight.
When transported by air to a medical center, the level of injury is typically severe.
Growing evidence shows that early blood administration improves chances of survival in these patients. According to the NJ DOH, research has shown that exsanguination remains the leading cause of preventable death among trauma victims, with nearly half of those patients dying within minutes of injury. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of EMS, prehospital blood product resuscitation has demonstrated a significant reduction in mortality among severely injured patients.
“We believe that this intervention of carrying and infusing blood will save lives,” said Art Samaras, senior manager, of Atlantic Mobile Health’s Mobile Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and critical care transport. “The sooner we can act, the better chances of a successful outcome for our patients.”
Blood from Morristown Medical Center’s blood bank will be Type O, which is the universal blood type. Morristown Medical Center is verified as a Level I Regional Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons and designated a Level II by the state of New Jersey.
Emergency medical services can provide prehospital blood transfusion at the point of injury, improving survival rates and preventing the rapid progression of shock.
Of the roughly 1,000 air programs in the United States, only a very small percentage are currently carrying blood.
“This is a significant milestone in the 19-year history of our air medical services,” said Dave Ferguson, executive director. “Having blood will increase our capabilities and allow us to better help patients on their worst day.”
About Atlantic Health
Atlantic Health is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 24,000 team members and more than 7,779 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people.
The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its eight hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and CentraState Medical Center in Freehold, NJ.
The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,700 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.
Atlantic Health provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 30 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Health Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.
Founded by Atlantic Health, the Healthcare Transformation Consortium is a partnership of seven regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability. Atlantic Health has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University, is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.