LifeFlight of Maine Uses Pay Parity and Training to Staff Helicopter Fleet

LifeFlight of Maine is nearly fully staffed for the first time in nine years.

The Bangor-based nonprofit air medical service has implemented specific changes to attract and keep clinicians. CEO Joe Kellner notes that the organization raised paramedic pay to match flight nurse compensation. This move contrasts with the industry standard, where paramedics typically earn less to keep operational costs down. Kellner believes the pay equity has helped with recruitment efforts.

The company also hired a full-time mental health counselor to support staff. EMS workers face higher rates of post-traumatic stress injury, anxiety, and depression than the general population. Kellner states that mental health issues have led many professionals to leave the field. Paramedic Brian Merklin, who previously worked in Nevada, describes the intense pace during the pandemic. He notes that crews flew nonstop on four-day shifts, leading to high turnover. Merklin left the profession for a few years before returning to LifeFlight. He now serves on a peer support team and values the available counseling resources.

LifeFlight operates a six to eight month orientation program called the Critical Care Academy. The program includes rigorous training and simulations to prepare clinicians for complex medical crises. Instructors observe paramedics as they treat mannequins and real animal tissues in a simulated hospital room. The academy addresses the need for continuous education in emergency critical care. The organization also runs a mentorship program for prospective applicants. Recently, LifeFlight hired one of the mentees from last year's cohort. The company aims to build a pipeline of qualified staff through these educational initiatives.

Demand for air medical services in Maine has doubled since 2015. LifeFlight crews completed 3,031 flights in 2025. Demand increased by another 10 percent in 2026. Nicholas George, who runs the ETHOS Database, reports that the need for these services rises year over year. Air ambulances fill gaps left by closing rural hospitals and strained ground ambulance stations. Most LifeFlight flights are interfacility transports. Clinicians stabilize patients at small local hospitals and fly them to larger medical centers. Flight nurse Denise Saucier works at LifeFlight and describes the role as demanding. She notes the lack of nearby medical facilities in rural areas. The service provides a critical link for patients who need specialized care quickly.

LifeFlight of Maine is one of the few independent nonprofit air medical companies in the nation. The industry is largely dominated by for-profit businesses. Mike Abernethy, an EMS expert and retired emergency medicine professor at the University of Wisconsin, views LifeFlight as a model program. He cites the organization's aviation and medical quality compared to average for-profit competitors. The nonprofit status allows the company to focus on clinician retention and training. Kellner, a former paramedic who became CEO in 2023, oversees these operational changes. The organization continues to monitor staffing levels and training outcomes. The goal is to maintain a stable team of flight clinicians as rural healthcare needs grow.