Overall, the program is the second-busiest in North America. In 2017/2018, CCT paramedics transported 6,373 patients by air ambulance and 2,372 by ground ambulance. 

Critical care paramedics are deployed from bases in Prince George, Richmond, Kelowna and Kamloops, Nanaimo and Vancouver. As of July 2018, there are 72 critical care and infant transport paramedics.

Infant Transport Team paramedics are based at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. They have completed advanced training and provide emergency medical care to pediatric, neo-natal and high-risk obstetric patients.

Critical care and infant transport paramedics use specialized helicopters, airplanes (air ambulances) and ground ambulances outfitted with specific equipment to provide critical care. Critical care and infant transport team paramedics especially bring a critical care unit to the patient’s side. 

Our Aviation program provides critical transportation linkages between hospitals and referral centres across the province for patients requiring a higher level of care.

BCEHS’s dedicated air resources include: seven airplanes (two turbo-props and one jet based in Vancouver, two turbo-props based in Kelowna, one turbo-prop based in Prince George and one low acuity aircraft based in Fort St. John), and four helicopters (two based in Vancouver, one based in Prince Rupert and one based in Kamloops). BCEHS also utilizes approximately 45 pre-qualified air carriers throughout British Columbia to provide charter aircraft.

All requests for critical care transport services, including neonatal, maternal and pediatric transfers, are processed through the BC Patient Transfer Network (BCPTN).

BCEHS also contracts the services of air ambulance pilots, who are highly experienced, flying both day and night in varying weather conditions to respond to calls throughout the province. Thanks to flying standards that surpass even those required of the aviation industry by Transport Canada, BCEHS continues to achieve safe, effective and efficient air transports.