University Hospital EMS

As a part of the New Jersey JEMSTAR program, University Hospital EMS staffs the medical component of NorthSTAR, acronymed for Northern Shock-Trauma Air Rescue.

Operating from of a fleet of four Sikorsky S-76B medevac helicopters piloted and maintained by the New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, a UH-EMS Flight Paramedic and Flight Nurse provide advanced life support care while in air transit to specialty centers. All medical flight personnel are highly experienced ALS providers that have completed rigorous training in air-medical operations and advanced trauma life support.

Based out of Somerset Airport and dispatched by REMCS, NorthSTAR is available for both on-scene emergency responses and critical care interfacility transfers. NorthSTAR may also be requested to provide air support for search and rescue operations. NorthSTAR also maintains an alternate operating base on the J-Level of University Hospital in Newark where the program was based prior to moving to a more centralized location at Somerset Airport in 2005.

Air medical evacuation should be considered for any victim of acute trauma that requires advanced life support transportation to a trauma or burn center and when the time of scene extrication and ground transport exceeds twenty minutes. (Please refer to the Adult Trauma Triage Protocol)

NorthSTAR may be requested by any public safety agency or private citizen by contacting REMCS at 1-800-332-HELO. Please visit the guidelines sections of this website for more information on NorthSTAR dispatch criteria and safety.

NorthSTAR is the primary medevac servicing the New Jersey counties of Sussex, Morris, Warren, Somerset, Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Union, Passaic, Bergen, Hudson, and Essex.