Requesting Nightingale

When calling for an interhospital flight, be prepared to give the following information:

• Requestor’s name, hospital and unit
• Type of patient
• Age of patient
• Patient weight
• IV drip medications
• Call back number
• Referring physician
• Accepting physician
• Receiving hospital and unit

The "stand-by" option was established in an effort to meet the needs of those facilities and agencies that utilize the Nightingale service. In situations when the helicopter might be needed, the helicopter can be put on standby for up to 20 minutes. The use of the standby does not reserve the helicopter for use by the facility or agency calling. The intent is to give advance warning to the crew of a possible need for air transport. In response, the crew will station themselves at the helipad and make all preparations for flight, short of launching.

If the helicopter is needed, call 1-800-572-4354 to request that the helicopter be officially dispatched. If no further word has been received after 20 minutes, the communication specialist will use the call back number to check with the facility or agency.

Scene or interhospital requests received while Nightingale is on standby will be handled by protocol. In general, scene requests receive priority over interhospital transfer requests. Any time the helicopter must respond on an immediate mission, the standby requestor will be notified that the helicopter is no longer available.

For requesting agencies outside a 25NM distance from Nightingale’s base at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, the Nightingale crew can assist in creating an auto launch policy with your agency. In general, this policy will allow Nightingale to be “auto-launched” when you received information on a call where there seems to be a high likelihood that air-medical transport will be needed. This allows the crew to get airborne more quickly. When units arrive on scene, if they feel Nightingale will not be needed, they can cancel the aircraft and we will return to base. However, in the event they are needed, this will greatly reduce the amount of time needed to get the aircraft to the scene. If interested in setting up an auto launch policy with Nightingale, please email us at Nightingale@sentara.com and with your contact information and a crew member will contact you to discuss setting this up.

Nightingale is a VFR (Visual Flight Rule) program. There are specific weather minimums that must be met before a mission is accepted. Weather conditions must remain within limits along the entire route of the mission and for the entire anticipated time frame. The pilot uses multiple methods to determine the current forecast.

When weather is a factor, the program will be placed on a weather check either locally (within 25 NM), outside local area (greater than 25 NM) or both. When weather is a concern, Nightingale advises that the requesting agency call 1-800-572-4354. This allows the pilot to assess the weather and determine if the minimums allow the helicopter to respond.