Although Duke Life Flight was founded as an air-only transport program, 80% of our transports occur via the ground.

Referring hospitals may call us when a patient in their facility requires a higher level of care than their capabilities allow.  Each ambulance is staffed with the appropriate team member complement for the patient's needs. Our ambulances serve as ‘rolling intensive care units’ that can meet any patient’s transport needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• Critical care ambulances with 24 hours a day coverage are split strategically between bases in Durham and Smithfield.
• Ground units cover a 180 mile radius from their bases, and provide world-class care to parts of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina.
• Over the last three years, Life Flight has averaged 4,700 ground transports per year—an average of 13 transports per day.