Our emergency helicopter response team: Air Med 12

Founded in 2005, St. Joseph Health Air Med 12 is the only air medical transport team in the Brazos Valley, transporting patients to hospitals throughout the region – including hospitals in Houston, Austin, and Temple. Through a partnership with Med-Trans Corporation, Air Med 12 combines quality emergency care with the capabilities of the country’s leading provider of air medical transport.

Our aircraft's capabilities

In 2019, St. Joseph Health, in cooperation with air medical partner PHI Air Medical, acquired a twin-engine Airbus H135 EC-135P2+ helicopter. This aircraft enhances Air Med 12’s operational capabilities and raises its standard of patient-centered care.

The Airbus H135 is the market leader in emergency medical services, providing ample space for patient care and direct access to on-board patients needing emergency care. This model is widely used by law enforcement, emergency search and rescue teams, and the energy industry. 

A light aircraft, the Airbus H135 is known for its endurance, compact build, low sound levels, reliability, and versatility.

Patient-centered care

The Airbus H135 enables Air Med 12 to more easily reach and transport patients, due to advanced navigation and landing capabilities. It features a high-set main rotor for safe patient loading and a fully-integrated stretcher for faster and more efficient patient loading.

Operational capabilities

Similar to commercial aircraft, the Airbus H135 offers features designed to control engine performance and improve flight stability and pilot awareness and visibility.

Want to work for Air Med 12?

Minimum requirements and flight crew onboarding for flight nurses and flight paramedics:

• Three years of experience in a critical care or emergency department
• Three years of MICU experience with critical care transport, including advanced airway management, ventilator management, and out-of-hospital surgical skills
• ACLS, PALS, NRP, TNCC, PHTLS
• Extensive experience in cross-department patient management and collaboration
• Above-average interpersonal skills, collaboration experience, and passion
• Above-average risk management and conflict resolution skills

After hire, Air Med 12 crews complete an extensive, multi-step, two-year orientation process that includes:

• Passing CFRN or FP-C
• Education in Air Medical Resource Management
• Advanced Trauma Life Support with our Medical Director of Trauma Surgery
• Specific and custom patient contact clinical time based on new crew member clinical experience
• Specific and custom classroom time based on new crew member clinical knowledge

At the completion of the orientation, which takes most crew members one to two years, the new crew member is presented with their Air Med 12 Flight Wings by the entire base.

Serving our community with rapid emergency care

St. Joseph Health is recognized as the region’s leader in emergency and trauma services. An integrated part of this team, Air Med 12 transports patients to hospitals throughout the region—including hospitals in Houston, Austin, and Temple—and provides critical care transports from our hospitals to outlying areas.

Quick responses in any emergency

Our experienced team and advanced aircraft are designed to respond quickly in any emergency, with blood and other supplies on board. Patients benefit from centralized emergency dispatch and medical direction under the region’s highest-rated emergency and trauma center.

As the designated 911 service in many of the communities we serve, St. Joseph Health is able to prelaunch Air Med 12 through advanced protocols, saving minutes of response time when they matter most.

Understand our team's advanced training

St. Joseph Health Air Med 12 is specially trained to intervene medically in the field and throughout transport. In addition to earning external certification, our EMS team members also receive dedicated academy training in St. Joseph Health emergency centers to master life-saving interventions. This additional training supports our team in delivering a high standard of care and creates a seamless transition of care from our emergency centers into other areas of our hospital.

Community education and support

Air Med 12 is also committed to supporting emergency responders throughout the Brazos Valley, providing comprehensive training in acute care and trauma intervention, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS). Working closely with our EMS team, they also provide emergency medical support for community events.