Clinical Research

At LifeFlight Medical Services, research is a core part of how we deliver high-quality aeromedical care. As a leader in prehospital and retrieval medicine, we are committed to advancing clinical practice, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening safety through rigorous, real-world research. Our work is shaped by frontline experience, collaborative inquiry, and a belief that evidence-based care drives better results.

Publications

Take a look at our latest findings, published articles and case reports that help shape the future of our care.

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Trauma Scores Show Limited Utility for Predicting In-Flight Deterioration in Air Medical Patients

Ben Powell, Susanna Cramb

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with cardiac conditions requiring emergency medical retrieval from the Great Barrier Reef Australia

John O'Neill, Robert Harvey, Katrina Starmer, Theodore Sklavos, Tim Cahill, Gregory Starmer, Robert Mitchell

A case of telehealth-directed emergency front-of-neck access (FONA)

Ben Powell, Alastair Newton, Clinton Gibbs

Safety and Risk in Airway Management During Bariatric Air Medical Retrieval

John Glasheen, Lynton Hargrave, Renee Bolot, Brendan O'Hare, Clinton Gibbs

The shock index predicts in-flight blood transfusion in aeromedical trauma patients

Ben Powell, Susanna Cramb

Ventilator-assisted preoxygenation in an aeromedical retrieval setting

Akmez Latona, Richard Pellat, David Wedgwood

About LifeFlight Research

Our dedication to research ensures that every patient receives cutting-edge, data-driven treatment, reinforcing our role as pioneers in the field of aeromedical services. Learn more about our ongoing projects, funding opportunities and research areas.

Research Priorities

LifeFlight is committed to advancing excellence in prehospital and retrieval medicine through collaborative research with clinical partners, academic institutions, and industry experts. Our research priorities reflect the realities of frontline care, with a focus on areas that make a meaningful difference to critically ill and injured patients. Current focus areas include airway management, prehospital blood transfusion, trauma care in regional and remote settings, point-of-care ultrasound, vasopressor use, and winch rescue operations.

Ongoing Projects

LifeFlight consultants and registrars are actively engaged in a range of research projects aimed at improving care across prehospital and retrieval medicine. Our work spans internal audits, statewide research projects, and multi-agency studies with other prehospital care providers. These projects focus on real-world clinical questions and contribute directly to improving safety, decision-making, and outcomes for critically unwell patients. To learn more about our current research or to explore potential collaborations, please contact us at: research@lifeflight.org.au

Research Funding

Research at LifeFlight is made possible through the generous support of community donations and competitive research grant funding. We are especially grateful to partners like the Emergency Medicine Foundation (EMF), whose ongoing support enables us to drive innovation and improve outcomes in pre-hospital and retrieval medicine. Continued investment in research helps our teams investigate meaningful questions, explore new treatments, refine clinical practices, and ultimately save the lives of Queenslanders.

Quality Improvement

At LifeFlight, continuous improvement is embedded in our clinical culture. Every six months, we conduct structured Quality Improvement (QI) audits across key areas of prehospital and retrieval care, including airway management, blood product usage, point-of-care ultrasound, winching operations, and ambulance-based responses. These projects help us identify trends, benchmark performance, and refine clinical practices in real time. Our QI program plays a critical role in shaping education, supporting operational decisions, and driving excellence in patient care across all LifeFlight bases.

How to contact us

Have questions about our research or want to learn more about our latest projects?
We’d love to hear from you!

Email us at: research@lifeflight.org.au

LifeFlight’s research is made possible by the support of Queensland Health and Retrieval Services Queensland.