HERMISTON â As rising COVID-19 numbers spark worry about hospital capacity in Oregon, the ability to quickly move patients between hospitals has been an important part of planning for surges. In 2020, Life Flight Network transported about 600 confirmed COVID-19 patients across its service region, which covers the Pacific Northwest and part of Western Montana. A news release from the âlargest not-for-profit air transport service in the United Statesâ stated in total it used full COVID-19 protocols in about 1,300 transports where patients had COVID-19 symptoms. Tim Beard, one of the flight nurses who cares for patients as theyâre being transported via plane or helicopter, said in some ways, his job is the same as it has always been: transport critically ill patients. But while flight nurses have always worn surgical masks around patients with flu-like symptoms, they now wear N-95 masks with all patients and a head-to-toe set of personal protective equipment when transporting patients with symptoms of COVID-19.