Ascension Sacred Heart Partners for ECMO Air Transport
Pensacola teams will use air ambulances to speed up critical transport for patients on heart-lung machines.
Updated on Oct. 31, 2026 in Heart Disease
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Ascension Sacred Heart has partnered with Air Methods to provide rapid air ambulance transport for patients requiring ECMO treatment. This initiative utilizes LifeFlight 1 Pensacola to reach specialized hospitals in significantly less time than previous ground methods.
Why it matters
The partnership addresses the critical need for speed when moving patients whose hearts or lungs have failed and require life-saving mechanical support. By cutting transport times, patients can reach organ transplant evaluation centers more efficiently.
Ground transport for ECMO patients previously required 3 to 6 hours to reach regional centers. The new air service leverages the experience of Air Methods, which has over 10 years of history managing these specialized transports across its 150 U.S. bases.
The players
Ascension Sacred Heart
This hospital network serves as a regional healthcare provider in Pensacola and began performing ECMO procedures three years ago.
Air Methods
This air medical service provider operates over 150 bases nationwide and brings a decade of experience transporting patients on ECMO support.
The details
Medical staff from Ascension Sacred Heart and Air Methods recently completed three days of intensive simulator-based training to prepare for these complex missions. LifeFlight 1 Pensacola is now equipped with the specific ECMO machines and specialized gear necessary to maintain blood circulation via heart-lung support during flight.
Timeline
Ascension Sacred Heart began performing ECMO treatments three years ago.
Medical teams completed collaborative transport training over the past three days.
The partnership was officially reported on October 31, 2026.
Health Landscape
This partnership aligns with the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization guidelines for high-acuity medical transport. It marks a shift toward integrating specialized critical care equipment into aerial fleets to meet global standards for ECMO patient survival and management.
Patients in the Pensacola area now have access to faster transfer times to major medical centers in Birmingham, Gainesville, and New Orleans. This infrastructure improvement reduces the time spent in transit, which is critical for those awaiting organ transplant evaluation.
The takeaway
Rapid transport is vital for patients whose organs have failed and require long-term mechanical support. Families of patients in critical condition should coordinate with their local care teams to understand how these transport options may be utilized during emergencies.
Further reading
For more information on local cardiac initiatives, visit the Heart Disease section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Pensacola News Journal.
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