Hospital Affiliates

There are no trauma, therapeutic cardiac, or neurosurgical service centers within the Florida Keys.

Trauma Star at the Forefront of Quality Care

Monroe County Fire Rescue has a direct affiliation with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and the Army Trauma Training Department (ATTD), located at the Ryder Trauma Center. Monroe County Fire Rescue expanded its cardiac alert program with the University of Miami Hospital to include Acute Coronary Syndrome alerts.

Trauma Star was the first air ambulance service to provide immediate access to the highest level of care to patients experiencing a myocardial infarction, also known as a heart attack. Trauma Star was the first air ambulance service in the United States to transport patients exhibiting signs of a neurological deficit, also known as a stroke, to a comprehensive stroke center for immediate interventions.

Trauma Star was also the first air ambulance service in the United States to combine the use of telemedicine in the field to perform neurological examinations by stroke physicians. It now implements new ultrasound transmission capabilities for trauma patients via telemedicine directly to surgeons at Ryder Trauma Center.

Flight Times

The flight time from Lower Keys Medical Center to the three closest trauma centers, Kendall Regional Trauma Center, Jackson Memorial Hospital South, and Jackson Ryder Trauma Center, is 50-to 55-minutes.

Types of Transports

If you have a severe auto accident or suffer any severe trauma, Trauma Star will fly you directly to a Level One Trauma Center from anywhere in the Keys, including the Dry Tortugas. If you are having a heart attack or stroke and call 911, Trauma Star will fly you from your location directly to a fully staffed cardiac or stroke treatment center on the mainland. 

In addition to the primary mission of providing critical trauma-related transports, Trauma Star also assists local hospitals by providing hospital-to-hospital transfers. If you are at an area hospital and require a critical care interfacility hospital transport, you or your representative can request the services of Trauma Star through the hospital staff, provided you meet the State of Florida interfacility transfer guidelines.